EFCC Arraigns Former Works Ministry Officials Over Alleged N1.9 Billion Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing—Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, a former Deputy Director of Highways, and Sulaiman Abdulkadir Muhammed, a surveyor in the Department of Highways and Planning—on allegations of fraud amounting to N1.9 billion.

The duo appeared before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja, on Wednesday. They are facing a three-count charge related to the alleged misappropriation of public funds designated for acquiring titles for federal roads nationwide between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020.

According to the EFCC, their actions violated Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. One of the charges states that Olowoniyan, in his capacity as Deputy Director of Highways and Project Coordinator, alongside Muhammed, used their positions to unlawfully divert N807,053,000, which was meant for acquiring road titles, for personal use.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution, led by Abba Muhammed (SAN), requested a trial date and urged the court to remand them in custody. However, their defence counsels, J.K. Kolawole and A.S.U. Garba, pleaded for a short adjournment to file for bail and asked that the accused be held in EFCC custody until the bail hearing.

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case to April 3, 2025, for the bail application hearing and ordered the defendants to be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre.

Separate Case of Additional N439.5 Million Fraud

In a separate proceeding before the same judge, the EFCC also arraigned Olowoniyan on another three-count charge for allegedly diverting an additional N439.5 million for personal use. One of the charges alleges that he transferred N301,994,200 to a ministry staff, Chile Ushahemba, and personally received N19,140,000, which he converted for personal gain, violating Section 315 of the Penal Code Law.

Olowoniyan also pleaded not guilty to these charges. The court set April 3, 2025, as the date for his bail hearing.

The case marks another major crackdown by the EFCC on corruption in public service, particularly within key government agencies responsible for infrastructure development.

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