N31m Teachers’ Salaries Allegedly Shared By Kwara NUT Chairman, Perm Sec– EFCC

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered how the sum of N31m meant for the payment of teachers’ salaries was allegedly diverted by the Chairman of Kwara State Nigerian Union of Teachers, Salihu Idris Toyin, and the Permanent Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Bayo Audu Onimago, among others.

The money allegedly shared by the suspects, according to the EFCC, Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, was meant for the payment of over 400 teachers working with the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board.

Other beneficiaries in the said money, the statement added, include the Director of Finance, SUBEB, Ahmed Husain, the State Coordinator of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Tijani Idris, the Controller of Finance of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Omole John.

While giving analysis of how the controversial funds were shared, the State Chairman of NUT, Salihu Idris Toyin, reportedly told the operatives of the EFCC that “the sum of N12m was paid into an account operated by me and others, the money was actually not supposed to come, when the cash hit the account, I withdrew it and gave it to SUBEB officials, they gave us N3m for free and we shared it among ourselves.

“We also received another N19m and I withdrew N4m from it, I used N1.5m for clearing and inter locking of our quarters, the remaining N2.5m is still with me.”

When the EFCC operatives asked the embattled NUT Chairman if he has receipts for the clearing and inter locking he said he did, his response was said to be negative.

It would be recalled that the Commission had last week announced the discovery of about 1,000 ghost workers allegedly smuggled into the payroll of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board.

All the suspects, the statement added, would be arraigned immediately after the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.