A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has adjourned the ongoing trial of former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, to July 27, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness.

Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar granted the adjournment on Wednesday following an oral application by counsel to the second defendant, Ibn Mahmud, who informed the court that lead defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), was indisposed.

Ahmed and Banu are being prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged diversion of N5.78 billion belonging to the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

During the proceedings, the sixth prosecution witness, Stanley Ujilibo, an Assistant Commander with the EFCC, testified that the former governor approved a request to obtain a N1 billion loan from the state’s SUBEB counterpart fund to pay workers’ salaries.

According to the witness, the request originated from the then Commissioner for Finance and was approved despite the statutory purpose of the SUBEB fund. He also stated that SUBEB operated under its own governing board and that neither Ahmed nor Banu was a member of the board.

Ujilibo told the court that while the former governor had the authority to appoint the SUBEB chairman and key officials, he did not serve on the board itself.

The witness further disclosed that EFCC investigators did not examine Ahmed’s personal bank accounts because the petition before the commission did not link the allegedly diverted funds to any account belonging to the former governor.

He also confirmed that no accounting officer of SUBEB is currently standing trial in connection with the case.

During cross-examination, counsel to Ahmed, Abdulrasaq Gold (SAN), requested an adjournment to obtain copies of the former governor’s statement to the EFCC and his asset declaration forms for further questioning of the witness. However, EFCC counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, opposed the application, arguing that the defence had ample time to seek the documents since the trial began in 2024.

In his ruling, Justice Abdulgafar declined the request for adjournment but held that the defence could recall the witness for further cross-examination after obtaining the requested documents.