Alleged N1.9bn Fraud: Court Fixes May 15 for Trial of Works Ministry Director, Surveyor

The fund was earmarked for the acquisition of titles for  federal roads nationwide between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020, which the defendants allegedly converted to their personal use.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel to the first and second defendant, J.K. Kolawole and A.S.U. Garba, respectively reminded the court of pending applications of their clients and requested that the court admitted them to bail on liberal terms pending the determination of the case. In his objection, prosecution counsel, M.K Hussein drew the attention of the court to a counter-affidavit signed by Njoku Ekelechi, an investigator with the EFCC, accompanied with a written address, dated April 2, 2025 and urged the court to discontenance the bail application or impose bail terms and conditions that will ensure that the defendants appear in court for their trial.
Justice Onwuegbuzie admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N800 million with two sureties in like sum, who must be civil servants that are resident in Abuja. The sureties must write an undertaking to produce the defendants in court as and when due. In addition, the defendants must submit their passports to the court which will be verified by the prosecution.
The first defendant, Olowoniyan, who is standing another trial in the same court for an alleged N420 million fraud was also admitted to another bail by the court in the sum of N400 million with a surety in like sum, who must be a civil servant, resident in Abuja. The surety, the court held must write an undertaking to produce the defendant in court as and when due. In addition, the defendant must submit his passport with the court registrar.
Both matters were adjourned till May 15, 2025 for trial.