Court docket remands Works Ministry Director, Surveyor in EFCC’s alleged N1.9 billion fraud case
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Excessive Court docket, Apo, Abuja, has remanded a former Deputy Director of Highways on the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, alongside a surveyor, Sulaiman Abdulkadir Muhammed, of the Division of Highways and Planning, in reference to a N1,936,961,649 fraud case filed by the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC).
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT Excessive Court docket, Apo, Abuja, remanded the defendants pending the listening to and dedication of their bail functions.
On March 19, 2025, the EFCC arraigned the defendants on a three-count cost regarding the alleged fraudulent diversion and misappropriation of public funds amounting to N1,936,961,649.00.
EFCC’s Case
In response to the anti-graft company, the alleged offence contravenes Part 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Act, 2000.
The funds have been mentioned to have been earmarked for the acquisition of titles for federal roads nationwide between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020, however have been allegedly transformed by the defendants for his or her private use.
One of many counts within the cost reads: “That you just, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, whereas serving as Deputy Director of Highways on the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and Undertaking Coordinator for the acquisition of titles for Federal Roads, and Sulaiman Abdulkadir Muhammed, whereas serving as Surveyor within the Division of Highways and Planning, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, between March 4, 2019, and October 21, 2019, in Abuja, inside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket, used your workplace to confer corrupt benefit upon yourselves by diverting to your individual use the sum of Eight Hundred and Seven Million, Fifty-Three Thousand Naira (N807,053,000.00), regardless of the funds being budgeted for the acquisition of titles for Federal Roads Nationwide, thereby committing an offence opposite to and punishable underneath Part 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Act, 2000.”
What Transpired in Court docket
On the resumption of proceedings, the defendants pleaded not responsible when the costs have been learn to them by the court docket registrar.
- The prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, SAN, then requested a trial date and requested the court docket to remand the defendants within the correctional centre.
- However counsel for the primary and second defendants, J.Okay. Kolawole and A.S.U. Garba, utilized for an adjournment to allow them to file bail functions.
- Additionally they urged the court docket to remand their purchasers within the EFCC’s custody pending the dedication of their bail.
Nonetheless, Justice Onwuegbuzie remanded the 2 defendants at Kuje Correctional Centre, whereas adjourning the matter till April 3, 2025, for the listening to of the bail software.
Extra Insights
In a associated growth, the EFCC disclosed that it additionally arraigned the primary defendant, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, on a separate three-count cost earlier than the identical choose for allegedly diverting public funds price N439,502,200.00 for private use.
One of many fees reads: “That you just, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, whereas serving as Deputy Director of Highways on the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and Undertaking Coordinator for the acquisition of titles for Federal Roads, and in such capability entrusted with public funds, between March 27, 2019, and December 17, 2019, in Abuja, inside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket, transferred the cumulative sum of Three Hundred and One Million, 9 Hundred and Ninety-4 Thousand, Two Hundred Naira (N301,994,200.00) to Chile Ushahemba (a workers member of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing) and acquired in money the sum of Nineteen Million, One Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N19,140,000.00), which you transformed to your individual use, thereby committing a felony breach of belief opposite to and punishable underneath Part 315 of the Penal Code Legislation.”
The defendant additionally pleaded not responsible to the costs, and Justice Onwuegbuzie fastened April 3, 2025, for the listening to of the bail software.
The accused stands harmless within the eyes of the legislation pending the ultimate verdict on the case by the court docket.
