Jstice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja, on Thursday, fixed May 15, 2025, for the trial of former Deputy Director, Highways, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, and surveyor Sulaiman Abdulkadir Muhammed of the Department of Highways and Planning.
The duo is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a three-count charge bordering on the diversion and misappropriation of public funds totaling N1,936,961,649.00 (One billion, nine hundred and thirty-six million, nine hundred and sixty-one thousand, six hundred and forty-nine naira).
The funds were earmarked for the acquisition of titles for federal roads nationwide between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020, which the defendants allegedly converted for personal use.
During Thursday’s proceedings, counsel to the first and second defendants, J.K. Kolawole and A.S.U. Garba respectively, reminded the court of pending bail applications and requested liberal terms pending the determination of the case.
In objection, prosecution counsel M.K. Hussein referred to a counter-affidavit filed by EFCC investigator Njoku Ekelechi, supported by a written address dated April 2, 2025, urging the court to reject the bail application or set stringent conditions to ensure the defendants’ court attendance.
Justice Onwuegbuzie granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N800,000,000 (Eight hundred million naira) each with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be civil servants residing in Abuja and must provide a written undertaking to produce the defendants as required. The defendants are also to submit their passports for verification by the prosecution.
Olowoniyan, who is also undergoing trial in the same court over an alleged N420 million fraud, was granted separate bail in the sum of N400,000,000 (Four hundred million naira) with one civil servant surety residing in Abuja and an undertaking to ensure his appearance. His passport must also be submitted to the court registrar.
