The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arraigned a former Deputy Director of Highways at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Augustine Olowoniyan, alongside a surveyor in the ministry, Sulaiman Muhammed, over an alleged N1.9 billion fraud.
The duo appeared before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja,facing three charge of alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds earmarked for the acquisition of titles for federal roads across the country.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the funds, intended for road projects between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020, were allegedly siphoned for personal use.
One of the charges reads, “That you, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, whilst serving as Deputy Director Highways, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and Project Coordinator for the acquisition of titles for Federal Roads, and Suleiman Abdulkadir Muhammed, whilst serving as Surveyor of the Department of Highways and Planning, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, between March 4, 2019, and October 21, 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, used your office to confer corrupt advantage upon yourselves by putting to your own use the sum of ₦807,053,000.00 despite being funds budgeted for the acquisition of titles for Federal Roads Nationwide, thereby committing an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed (SAN), urged the court to remand the accused in custody and requested a trial date.
However, the defence counsel, J.K. Kolawole and A.S.U. Garba, sought a short adjournment to file bail applications, requesting that their clients be held in EFCC custody instead.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case to April 3, 2025, for the hearing of the bail applications and ordered the defendants to be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
