The prosecution’s witness in the alleged N5.78 billion fraud trial involving former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, on Monday failed to produce before the Kwara State High Court document signed by Banu requesting to borrow funds from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) counterpart fund.

The development emerged during the continuation of the cross-examination of the prosecution’s sixth witness, Stanley Ujilibo, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ahmed and Banu are standing trial on allegations that over N5.78 billion belonging to the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) was diverted to pay salaries of state civil servants.

During cross-examination by counsel to the second defendant, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), the EFCC operative was asked to identify any exhibit before the court showing that Banu, in his capacity as Commissioner for Finance, requested approval to borrow money from the SUBEB counterpart fund.

After examining the documents tendered as exhibits, Ujilibo first identified a letter written by Banu to the then governor requesting the payment of the state’s counterpart contribution into the SUBEB fund.

However, when Oyewole pointed out that the letter did not seek request to borrow from the fund, the witness identified another document relating to the borrowing.

He subsequently admitted that the letter was not signed by Banu but by another government official.

Earlier, while being cross-examined by counsel to the first defendant, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), the EFCC witness said he could not state whether Ayoola Idowu, the civil servant who petitioned the EFCC over the alleged diversion of the SUBEB funds, personally benefited from the salaries paid from the disputed funds.

Responding to questions from Ajibade, Ujilibo said he was unaware whether Idowu, as a state civil servant, received salary from the funds allegedly used to pay workers.

Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar adjourned further hearing in the matter until November 9, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of the prosecution’s witness.