“N150m, N10m, N4.7m Transfers Revealed” — UBA, Zenith Officials Detail Transactions In Highway Fraud Case Involving Works Ministry Director, Surveyor
Justice Jude Onwuegbu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, on Monday, June 23, 2025, heard testimony from prosecution witnesses in the case against Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, former Deputy Director of Highways at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and surveyor Sulaiman Abdulkadir Muhammed.
The defendants face charges of diverting and misappropriating N1.9 billion allocated for federal road projects.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the defendants on a three-count charge accusing them of unlawfully siphoning public funds intended for acquiring titles for federal roads nationwide between March 2019 and July 2020. The alleged offenses contravene Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
During proceedings, prosecuting counsel Abba Mohammed, SAN, informed the court of additional proofs of evidence filed on June 4, 2025, and served on the defendants.
William Abimbola, a United Bank for Africa compliance officer and the prosecution’s first witness, testified to detailed bank transaction records revealing multiple inflows from the Federal Government of Nigeria into accounts controlled by the defendants. He narrated numerous transactions between January and June 2019, including millions of naira credited on specific dates that were allegedly diverted for personal use.
Similarly, Remigus Ugwu, a Zenith Bank official and another prosecution witness, described funds transfers from four project managers involved in the Ministry’s “Right of Will” project into the defendants’ accounts. Transactions cited included inflows of N4.7 million, N10 million, and even N150 million, as well as outflows to third parties, suggesting complex movement of funds.
The testimonies revealed a pattern of significant sums being deposited and withdrawn under suspicious circumstances, highlighting the scale of the alleged fraud.
The court adjourned the trial to July 16 and 17, 2025, for the continuation of proceedings.
