In the ongoing trial of Kwara State’s former governor, Mallam Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented testimony revealing how the ex-governor allegedly misappropriated the N5 billion grant meant for the state’s Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) projects.

The trial, which also involves Ahmed’s Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, centers on the alleged theft and mismanagement of public funds amounting to N5.78 billion.

The two men stand accused of conspiring to steal funds allocated for teachers’ salaries, as well as for security and infrastructure projects under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

On Wednesday, the case resumed before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.

While both Ahmed and Banu pleaded not guilty to the charges, they were granted bail, and the case was adjourned for further proceedings.

During the hearing, the EFCC presented its first Principal Witness (PW1), Abubakar Hassan, an Assistant Director of Finance at UBEC.

Hassan testified that the Kwara State Government, under Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, diverted around N5 billion meant for various educational projects between 2013 and 2015.

Hassan, led in evidence by EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, explained that the matching grant funds from UBEC were designated for the development of primary and junior secondary schools.

“The Matching Grant Funds from UBEC are meant to provide certain infrastructural facilities for students in primary and junior secondary schools. These facilities include the construction of schools, provision of laboratories, construction of toilets, water and sanitation, and cultural education,” Hassan said.

Hassan went on to outline the procedure for obtaining such grants, stating, “UBEC law provides that the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, its Executive Secretary, and the Director of Finance are signatories to Matching Grant Accounts. The account is opened with any commercial bank or the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

The witness further revealed that the state government received substantial grants for the years 2013 to 2015, totaling about N5 billion.

“The Commission made lodgments for 2013, 2014, and 2015, leading to the state receiving Matching Grants of about N2 billion for 2013, N876 million for 2014, and N982 million for 2015, totaling about N5 billion,” Hassan stated.

However, Hassan’s investigation uncovered significant discrepancies in how the funds were used. “Implementation of the 2013 Action Plan had commenced, and contractors were mobilized to sites.

However, during our project monitoring exercise, we discovered that funds for the 2013 projects had been diverted by SUBEB. About N2 billion was diverted,” Hassan testified.

Upon discovering the diversion, Hassan said that a project monitoring committee report was submitted to Kwara SUBEB with recommendations for corrective action.

However, no response was received. Consequently, UBEC sent formal requests to banks, asking them to return the funds meant for the 2014 and 2015 projects.

Hassan added that no projects were initiated in 2016, 2017, and 2018 because the state government failed to comply with the initial recommendations concerning the diverted funds.

He stressed that UBEC’s law placed the responsibility for the management of the funds solely on SUBEB, with no involvement from the state governor or any other external party.

The court adjourned the hearing until February 17, 2025, for further proceedings in the case.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N1,054,542,020,147.47 to the Ogun State House of Assembly.

The bill, which is set at over N1 trillion, is divided into N453.56 billion for recurrent expenditure and N600.98 billion for capital expenditure.

The Governor made the presentation during a plenary session presided over by Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide.

Prior to the presentation, Abiodun had inaugurated the newly refurbished State Assembly Complex, originally built more than 45 years ago.

The 2025 budget is aptly named the “Budget of Hope and Prosperity,” reflecting the governor’s vision for the state’s growth.

In his budget breakdown, Governor Abiodun revealed that N120.14 billion has been allocated for personnel costs, with N37.49 billion set aside for consolidated revenue costs.

Additionally, N76.07 billion will be used to service public debt, while N219.86 billion is earmarked for overhead costs.

The capital expenditure will see the lion’s share with N600.98 billion allocated for infrastructure development.

Abiodun provided a sectoral allocation of the budget, with the education sector receiving the highest allocation of N177.835 billion, which represents 17% of the total budget.

The health sector follows with N134.538 billion, or 13%, while housing and community development gets N66.382 billion (6%).

The agriculture and industry sectors each receive N65.38 billion, also 6%, and infrastructure development is allocated N284.4 billion, or 27% of the budget.

Other allocations include N25.27 billion for recreation, culture, and religion, N39.83 billion for social protection, N46.86 billion for the executive public service, and N42.28 billion for financial and fiscal affairs.

A total of N26.44 billion has been set aside for public order and safety, while economic affairs and the judiciary have been allocated N5.97 billion and N10.54 billion, respectively.

The legislature will receive N21.18 billion, and N104.6 billion has been designated for statewide expenditures.

Governor Abiodun emphasized that the 2025 budget aims to tackle the state’s challenges by aligning with the Ogun State Economic Development Plan and Strategy (2021-2025).

He stated that the budget will focus on fiscal sustainability, human development, food security, a business-friendly environment, energy sufficiency, transport infrastructure, and industrialization with a special focus on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

“This budget strives to balance fiscal responsibility with improved public service delivery, ensuring resources are used effectively to maximize prosperity for all, by addressing immediate issues like unemployment and poverty while investing in long-term growth. It aims to inspire hope, foster unity, and strengthen public trust in the government’s ability to manage resources responsibly and guide the state toward a more equitable and sustainable future,” Abiodun remarked.

Governor Abiodun also provided an update on the performance of the 2024 budget, noting that the state had achieved 79% of its prorated revenue target and 56% of its expenditure target.

This, he said, highlighted the state’s financial reliability and its growing fiscal base.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide commended Governor Abiodun for his administration’s infrastructure projects, particularly the renovation of the State Assembly Complex, which has improved the working conditions of the lawmakers and staff.

He praised the governor for his ongoing legacy projects, including the Agro Cargo International Airport, the Remo Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone, and road infrastructure.

Elemide also highlighted the legislative efforts in the past 18 months, mentioning the passage of 14 bills and 32 motions, as well as conducting oversight functions across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

He called for financial autonomy for the state legislature to enhance the efficiency of its functions and further acknowledged the improved welfare of the Assembly’s staff.

In closing, Elemide reiterated the importance of the 2025 Appropriation Bill as a roadmap for the state’s socio-economic development.

He assured that the Assembly would continue to work in cooperation with the executive to ensure the successful passage and implementation of the budget.

The budget presentation was attended by several dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, former deputy governors, members of the State Executive Council, party stalwarts, and traditional rulers from across the state.

A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has been remanded in prison by an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate court following allegations of defamation against Aare Afe Babalola SAN, the founder of Afe Babalola University.

Farotimi was arrested by officers from the Ekiti State Police Command at his Lagos office on Tuesday.

The charges stem from Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, in which he allegedly accused Aare Babalola of corrupting the judiciary and influencing Supreme Court rulings, thereby causing damage to his reputation and career.

The book, according to the charges, exposed Babalola to public hatred, ridicule, and contempt.

Farotimi pleaded not guilty to the sixteen counts of defamation against him.

Police prosecutor, Samson Osun, requested that Farotimi be remanded in prison custody pending further investigation, citing the need for security maintenance.

However, Farotimi’s defense counsel, Dayo Akeredolu, argued against the remand, urging the court to grant bail on liberal terms, stressing that the case was bailable and that Farotimi, being a well-known figure, posed no flight risk.

He also reminded the court that Farotimi was presumed innocent until proven guilty.

After hearing both sides, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ruled to remand Farotimi in custody and adjourned the case for hearing on December 10.

As Nigeria grapples with a looming hunger crisis that could affect 33 million people by 2025, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has taken a personal step to address food insecurity by turning to farming at his home in Lagos.

In a brief 38-second video shared on X, Onanuga is seen tending to vegetables in his makeshift greenhouse, clearing away dry leaves.

He captioned the video, saying, “I am now a farmer-journalist, tending some vegetables planted in my house in Lagos. The vegetables replaced the grass.”

Onanuga’s decision to engage in farming comes at a critical time as the United Nations warns that food insecurity in Nigeria could worsen significantly in the coming year.

A recent report from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) predicts that the number of Nigerians at risk of hunger could rise sharply to 33 million in 2025, up from 25 million in 2024.

The factors contributing to this alarming increase include unprecedented inflation, climate-related disasters, and ongoing conflicts in key agricultural regions.

Recent floods have destroyed over 1.6 million hectares of farmland in the northern states, significantly reducing maize, rice, and sorghum production by around 1.1 million tonnes.

In the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, five million people are already facing acute food insecurity.

Additionally, the crisis is spreading to other areas, including Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto. Inflation, which hit a record high of 32.7% in September, has exacerbated the situation, making food unaffordable for millions of Nigerians.

Chi Lael, a WFP spokesperson, stated, “Record inflation, climate shocks, and ongoing conflicts are projected to push the number of food-insecure Nigerians to 33 million in 2025, a sharp increase from the 25 million who need assistance today. Never before have so many Nigerians gone without food.”

Experts have expressed concern over the growing number of children and pregnant women at risk of malnutrition.

Approximately 5.4 million children and 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are at risk of acute malnutrition, with nearly 1.8 million children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), requiring immediate intervention.

Onanuga, who has long advocated for individual involvement in food security, drew on historical examples of Nigeria’s agricultural efforts, such as the 1976 “Operation Feed the Nation” initiative by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and the government’s response to shortages of essential items like rice, milk, and sugar in 1984 during Muhammadu Buhari’s first term.

He noted that this is not the first time Nigeria has faced such a crisis, but emphasized the importance of both government and individual efforts to address the problem.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has also supported this call for greater agricultural participation.

Earlier this year, she urged Nigerians to engage more in farming, stating, “we can grow our food. Everybody should grow something.”

During her meeting with Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu reinforced the government’s focus on agriculture as part of the Renewed Hope Initiative, which aims to boost sectors such as agriculture, empowerment, education, health, and social welfare.