National Telescope national telescope newspaper
More facts have continued to trail the alleged diversion of N50million meant for payment of 2018 students’ bursary by the immediate past administration scholarship board in Kwara State.
The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on January 15, 2020 arraigned Fatimoh Yusuf, the immediate past Chairperson, Kwara State Scholarship Board; Fatai Lamidi, Secretary of the Board, and Stephen Ajewole, the board’s Accountant before Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of a Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, on a seven-count charge for their alleged involvements in bursary fraud; but they pleaded “not guilty”.
According to a report posted by the EFCC on its website today, The trial commenced on March 4, 2020, with the EFCC presenting its first witness, Isiaka Adeshina, an executive member of the National Association of Kwara State Students, said the board’s officials listed his name as one of the beneficiaries of the 2018 bursary award at the University of Ilorin, but he never received any money.
At the resumed hearing, March 4, 2020, the witness, Isiaka Adeshina, an executive member of the National Association of Kwara State Students, said the board’s officials listed his name as one of the beneficiaries of the 2018 bursary award at the University of Ilorin, but he never received any money.
While being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, O.B. Akinsola, he narrated how he was shortlisted as number 725 on the list of beneficiaries of the 2018 bursary award released by the Kwara State Government.
“Each student was entitled to the sum of
N5,000, but to my surprise, when I was invited by the EFCC, they confronted me
with some documents especially the payment vouchers.
“I found my name among
those that have been paid; they signed against my name as a beneficiary, but
the signature is not mine, my signature was forged.
“When they started the payment, they did not pay up to 350 students.
“They told us they were going for Jumat Prayer, but when they came back they
said the money had finished.”
Further hearing has however been adjourned to March 11, 2020.
