Six Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) officials have been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with embezzlement of N96 million.
The defendants include Salami Bashir and Dauda Quozim, who work in the salary unit at the Kwara SUBEB; Ahmed Olarewaju, director of finance and supply; Omole John, controller of finance and accounts; Fatai Oyerinde, coordinator of the salary unit; and Mujeeb Ibrahim, executive officer, account and salary schedule.
Suleiman Akanbi, the judge of a high court in Ilorin, Kwara state, heard the defendants’ arraignment.
On four counts that bordered on breach of trust and financial theft, they entered a not guilty plea.
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 ourt, 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.”
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Although counsel to the defendants moved oral bail applications, the judge ordered their remand at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Ilorin and adjourned the case to April 16.
