EFCC Arraigns Six Kwara SUBEB Staff for N96 Million Fraud
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged six officials from the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) before Justice Akanbi at the State High Court in Ilorin due to allegations of fraud totaling N96 million. This information was shared in an official statement from the commission, posted on their X page.
The officials face a four-count indictment for criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds. According to the EFCC, these individuals were responsible for handling funds belonging to Kwara SUBEB but reportedly diverted the resources for personal gain. The accused 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 Accounts and Salary Schedule
- Salami Temitope Bashir, staff member of the Salary Unit
- Dauda Aweda Quozim, staff member of the Salary Unit
Details of the Charges
One specific count states: “That you, Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Omole Omololu, Fatai Oyerinde, Mujeeb Ibrahim, and Bashir Temitope Salami, between September 2018 and December 2018 in Ilorin, while acting as public officials for the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board and entrusted with a property valued at N33,891,982.37 (Thirty-Three Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Two Naira, Thirty-Seven Kobo)—part of the Kwara State SUBEB funds held in account No: 0031236028 at Sterling Bank Plc—committed the offense of criminal breach of trust regarding said property, an action punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code.”
Another charge against them alleges: “That you, Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Omole Omololu, Fatai Oyerinde, Mujeeb Ibrahim, and Bashir Temitope Salami, between January 2019 and June 2019 in Ilorin, as public officers of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board and entrusted with another property valued at N30,406,629.09 (Thirty Million, Four Hundred and Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-Nine Naira, Nine Kobo) from the same SUBEB funds in account No: 0031236028 at Sterling Bank Plc, likewise committed criminal breach of trust in respect of this property, which is also punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code.”
Court Proceedings
After the charges were read in court, the accused individuals entered a plea of “not guilty.” The prosecution, represented by counsel Andrew Akoja, requested a trial date and sought to have the defendants remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Centre. Meanwhile, the defense attorney, Abdullahi Lawal, presented oral bail applications for the accused.
Justice Akanbi has adjourned the case until Wednesday, April 16, 2025, for trial, ordering that the defendants be held at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Ilorin until their bail requests are resolved.
Background Context
This recent case forms part of the EFCC’s extensive efforts to combat financial misconduct among public officials. In November 2024, Nairametrics reported the arraignment of Suleiman Garba Bulkwang, the Director of Human Resources Management at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), on five counts of fraud and money laundering amounting to N223,412,909. The EFCC accused him of misappropriating public funds via consultants and shell companies.
In a similar crackdown, the EFCC recently apprehended five officials from the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue for allegedly diverting N1,294,337,676.53 intended for the Katsina State Government, revealing collusion to misdirect funds from international health organizations to a personal bank account through a company owned by one of the suspects.
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