The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned six officials of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for alleged misappropriation of N96 million. The officials were brought before Justice Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on a four-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds.
The defendants include 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 of Account and Salary Schedule; Salami Temitope Bashir; and Dauda Aweda Quozim, both staff of the Salary Unit at Kwara SUBEB.
According to the EFCC, the officials, in their capacity as public officers, allegedly misappropriated funds from the Kwara SUBEB account domiciled in Sterling Bank. One of the charges stated that between September 2018 and December 2018, they mismanaged N33,891,982.37, while another charge revealed that between January 2019 and June 2019, they allegedly diverted N30,406,629.09.
All the accused however, pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when read before the court.
Prosecution counsel Andrew Akoja urged the court to set a trial date and remand the defendants in the Nigerian Correctional Centre.
However, the defense counsel, led by Abdullahi Lawal, made oral bail applications on behalf of the accused.
Justice Akanbi adjourned the case until April 16, 2025, for trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Ilorin.
The statement partly read: The defendants are, Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Director, Finance and Supply; Omole Omololu John, Controller, Finance and Accounts; Fatai Oyerinde, Coordinator, Salary Unit; Mujeeb Ibrahim, Executive Officer, Account and Salary Schedule; Salami Temitope Bashir and Dauda Aweda Quozim, who are staff of the Salary Unit in the Kwara SUBEB.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Omole Omololu, 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.”
“Another charge reads: “That you, Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Omole Omololu, Fatai Oyerinde, Mujeeb Ibrahim and Bashir Temitope Salami, between January 2019 and June 2019 of 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 and in such capacity entrusted with a certain property to wit: the gross sum of N30,406,629.09 (Thirty Million, Four Hundred and Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Nine Naira, Nine Kobo) which sum formed part of the Kwara State SUBEB funds in account no: 0031236028 domiciled at Stealing 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.”
