The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Deputy Director of Highways at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Augustine Olowoniyan, alongside a surveyor, Sulaiman Muhammed, over allegations of diverting N1.9 billion in public funds.
The duo was brought before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, on a three-count charge related to misappropriation and fraud.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the funds in question were meant for acquiring land titles for federal roads across the country between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020. However, the defendants allegedly diverted the money for personal use.
One of the charges states that Olowoniyan and Muhammed, while serving in their respective roles at the ministry, used their positions to illegally benefit from N807 million allocated for the federal road project.
The alleged offence violates Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their plea, EFCC counsel Abba Muhammed, SAN, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand them in a correctional facility. However, their lawyers, J.K. Kolawole and A.S.U. Garba, sought a short adjournment to file bail applications and asked that they remain in EFCC custody.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case to April 3, 2025, for the bail hearing and ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre.
In a separate case, the EFCC also arraigned Olowoniyan on another three-count charge for allegedly diverting N439.5 million in public funds.
One of the charges alleges that while serving as Deputy Director of Highways and Project Coordinator, Olowoniyan transferred N301.9 million to a ministry staff member, Chile Ushahemba, and personally received N19.1 million in cash, which he allegedly converted to his own use.
This offence, according to the EFCC, constitutes a criminal breach of trust under Section 315 of the Penal Code.
Olowoniyan again pleaded not guilty, and the judge scheduled the bail hearing for April 3, 2025.
