The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned six officials of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) over an alleged N96 million fraud
The officials were brought before Justice Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, on Monday, facing a four-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds.
A statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, identified the accused persons as Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Director of Finance and Supply; Omole Omololu John,
Controller of Finance and Accounts; Fatai Oyerinde, Coordinator of the Salary Unit; Mujeeb Ibrahim, Executive Officer for Accounts and Salary Schedule; Salami Temitope Bashir; and Dauda Aweda Quozim, both staff members of the Salary Unit.
The anti-graft agency alleged that between 2018 and 2020, the defendants conspired to divert government funds for personal use. Specifically, the EFCC claimed that they illegally withdrew and shared sums amounting to N96 million from the Kwara SUBEB account domiciled at Sterling Bank Plc.
“That you, Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Omole Omololu John, Fatai Oyerinde, Mujeeb Ibrahim, and Bashir Temitope Salami, between September 2018 and December 2018, at Ilorin, within the judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, being public officers in the service of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board
(KWSUBEB) and in such capacity entrusted with a certain property, to wit: the gross sum of N33,891,982.37 (Thirty-Three Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Two Naira, thirty-Seven Kobo), which sum formed part of the Kwara State SUBEB funds in account
No: 0031236028 domiciled at Sterling Bank Plc, and you thereby committed the offence of criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code.”
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecuting counsel, Andrew Akoja, urged the court to set a trial date and remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Centre.
However, defense counsel, led by Abdullahi Lawal, made an oral bail application on behalf of the accused.
Justice Akanbi subsequently adjourned the case until April 16, 2025, for trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Ilorin, pending further proceedings.
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