The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned two officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Augustine Olowoniyan, a former Deputy Director of Highways, and Sulaiman Muhammed, a surveyor in the same ministry, on charges of alleged N1.9 billion fraud.
The defendants were brought before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, facing three counts related to the alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds totaling N1,936,961,649.00.
According to Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, the funds were meant for the acquisition of titles for federal roads across the country between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020. However, the funds were allegedly misappropriated for personal use instead.
Upon reading the charges to the defendants, both Olowoniyan and Muhammed pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed (SAN), requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility.
One of the charges against the defendants reads: “That you, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, whilst serving as Deputy Director of 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 misappropriating the sum of N807,053,000.00. These were funds intended 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.”
In response, the defense counsel for the two defendants, J.K. Kolawole and A.S.U. Garba, requested a short adjournment to file bail applications and requested that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case to April 3, 2025, to hear the bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre until the next hearing.
