By Barr. Lanre Daibu, a former chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), told Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court that the request came via a phone call. However, he insisted on a formal written request to ensure a repayment commitment from the state government.
“The reason we insisted that such a request should be in writing was to ensure commitment from the state government on repayment,” Daibu stated. Despite the assurance in writing, he revealed that the loan was never repaid before the board was dissolved.
Benjamin Sehinde Fatigun, a retired Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Finance, corroborated Daibu’s statement. He testified that the governor approved the loan, which was then transferred to the state’s salary account to cover payments for civil servants and pensioners.
During cross-examination, Fatigun admitted that the Ministry of Finance wrote a letter to the governor, explaining salary payment difficulties and suggesting the use of the UBEC grant as a solution. “I explained in my EFCC statement how the N1 billion was released,” he said.
The trial continues as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeks to establish how state funds were allegedly mismanaged under Ahmed’s administration.
