Two witnesses have told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, how Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, a former deputy director of Highways at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and a surveyor, Sulaiman Abdulkadir Muhammed, allegedly siphoned over N1.9 billion meant for acquiring titles for federal road projects.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the pair before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie on three counts bordering on diversion and misappropriation of public funds totaling N1,936,961,649 between March 2019 and July 2020.
The EFCC stated that the offences violate Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
A statement issued by Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s spokesperson, outlined the highlights of Monday’s court session.
During the hearing, William Abimbola, a compliance officer at United Bank for Africa (UBA), appeared as the first prosecution witness.
He presented bank transaction records belonging to the first defendant, detailing multiple inflows allegedly linked to the federal government. The court admitted the documents as Exhibit PW1E.
Led in evidence by EFCC’s counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, Abimbola testified that on March 21, 2019, the defendant’s account received multiple credits of N200,000, N300,000, N2,220,000, N917,000, N109,450,000, N3,750,400, and N4,662,000.
He added that in January 2019, there were further deposits of N2,130,000 and N4,530,000, followed by N4,705,000 and N640,000 on January 30.
The EFCC statement further revealed that in March 2019, additional credits were recorded, including N180,000, N278,369, N282,100, N1,809,950, N504,700, N525,890, N581,600, N371,460, N297,000, N40,000, N249,500, N80,000, and N30,000.
Continuing his testimony, Abimbola noted an inflow of N20 million on April 4, 2019, followed by N4.9 million on April 16, and two separate inflows of N4 million each on the same day. On April 17, more credits were recorded—N35,108, N250,758, and N3.92 million, all from the Federal Government.
On April 26, 2019, credits of N2.2 million and N200,000 were logged, followed by N2.8 million, N1.066 million, N2.4 million, N278,600, N1.14 million, and N197,200 on May 2.
He also testified that on May 9, 2019, the account received N630,000 and N2.89 million, while on May 13, there were further deposits of N504 million and N2.3 million. On June 13, 2019, more inflows appeared, including N116.8 million, N190,395, N222,400, N286,650, N82,000, and N840,600.
In a related trial also involving Mr Olowoniyan before the same judge, another prosecution witness, Remigus Ugwu, a staff member of Zenith Bank, testified earlier in May, also as the first witness.
He described how several project managers involved in the Right of Way Project allegedly transferred public funds from the ministry into Olowoniyan’s personal account.
Ugwu told the court that on March 28, 2019, Olowoniyan’s account received N4.7 million from Festus Oluwatayo.
On June 27, 2019, another N10 million was paid in by Pascal Ugochukwu, followed by N10 million from Oluwadare Oluwatayo on July 2, and N3.98 million from Mohammed Ahmed on July 10.
He added that on January 6, 2020, the account received a lump sum of N150 million from Olasehinde Micah Jolomi. On the same day, N9 million was transferred to Chile Ushahemba Samson, a staff member of the Federal Ministry, and another N9 million was credited to Samson’s account with Diamond Bank.
The EFCC arraigned Olowoniyan and Muhammed on March 19 before Justice Onwuegbuzie, with both defendants pleading not guilty.
Following the arraignment, the judge ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja and scheduled the bail hearing for April 3. On that date, the court granted each defendant bail in the sum of N800 million, with two sureties who must be civil servants residing in Abuja and willing to guarantee the defendants’ attendance in court.
In a separate charge, Olowoniyan faces three additional counts over the alleged diversion of N439.5 million in public funds. He was similarly granted bail in that case in the sum of N400 million, under the same bail conditions.
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… between March 4, 2019, and October 21, 2019… used your office to confer corrupt advantage upon yourselves by putting to your own use the sum of N807,053,000, thereby committing an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
The second charge alleges that Olowoniyan transferred N301.99 million to Chile Ushahemba and received N19.14 million in cash, which was allegedly converted for personal use.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned both cases to July 16 and 17 for continuation of hearing.