A former Surveyor-General of the Federation (SGOF), Dr. Ebisintei Awudu, has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), for alleged fraudulent diversion of N2.8 billion.

Dr. Awudu was brought before Justice Olusegun Adeniyi, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court 9, Maitama, on a 22-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, gratification and virement, which contravened Sections 19, 10 (a) (i) and 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and punishable under the same section 10(a)(ii) of the same Act.

The charge in part reads, “That you Surveyor Ebisintei B. Awudu between 16th November, 2017 and January 2018, used your official position as the Surveyor-General of the Federation to confer unfair advantage upon a relation and associate by awarding five different contracts with a total sum of N808,592,200 ( Eight Hundred and Eight million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand, Two Hundred Naira) to Geolev Nigeria Ltd., which company you had been a Director, wherein your half brother and other associates are still Directors, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000”.

It was alleged that the sum of N1,253,428,269 was collected by the accused at different times between February and December, 2018, from various contractors handling projects for the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation as gratification.

It was also alleged that without appropriate approval, Awudu allegedly diverted the sum of N42,156,061.46 allocated for the purchase of two Toyota Hilux vehicles, to purchase a Toyota Land Cruiser, and also allocation meant for International Earth Science Summit and Remote Sensing Conference and Training to acquiring Information and Technology Equipment.

The accused person pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him, as his Counsel, F.B. Orogun, pleaded with the court to grant bail on liberal terms on medical grounds.

However, the Counsel to ICPC, Shittu Wahab, had filed a counter-affidavit opposing the bail application that it was not tenable, and that there was likelihood that the defendant would evade trial.

Wahab therefore, pleaded with the court not to grant bail to the accused on self recognizance but impose stringent conditions that will make Awudu attend trial without failure.

The trial Judge after careful consideration, ruled that the accused, having enjoyed administrative bail by the State, granted him bail in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a Nigerian citizen employed in the civil service of the federation or any of the agencies of the government, or in the service of the Federal Capital Territory Administration or any of its agencies.

The surety shall not be below the rank of a Permanent Secretary or Director-General of government agency. He shall deposit all international traveling documents with the senior registrar of the court throughout the duration of the case. The defendant shall be kept in the detention facility of ICPC pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.

The Judge thereafter adjourned the matter to 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th of September, 2021.

Fahdiga:
Just another media trial to distract us from criticizing this despotic regime for their monumental failure in every aspect of governance so expect nothing tangible from it. This brutal regime has gone down as the worst since history

Commentor:

You distract yourself enough.

Fahdiga:
Exactly the way you distract yourself

Fahdiga:
Just another media trial to distract us from criticizing this despotic regime for their monumental failure in every aspect of governance so expect nothing tangible from it. This brutal regime has gone down as the worst since history

Commentor:


See painment.

Gbas gbos.

1108eixiii:
[s][/s]

RenaissanceGuy:
22 counts that'll end up taking years in court. Why not reduce them for easier prosecution?

timofip:
2.8 Billion!!!

seunmsg:


Sometimes, learn to read and understand before rushing to spew nonsense. This matter started since 2019 when the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation first raised issues bothering on misappropriation of funds, violation of extant financial regulations and gross abuse of office against the then Surveyor General. It made Nairaland front page back then https://www.nairaland.com/5111046/multi-billion-naira-fraud-rocks-office

After the media blew the matter up, ICPC commenced investigation based on the Auditor General's report in July 2019. It was also widely reported on Nairaland and other media platforms. https://www.nairaland.com/5309965/alleged-n1.4bn-property-theft-icpc

So you see, the court case is a culmination of diligent and painstaking anti corruption work that was started by the Office of the Auditor General for the federation, escalated by the press and thoroughly investigated by ICPC. Calling it a media trial when you know little or nothing about the case is a serious disrespect to officers from different agencies that worked for years to get the case to where it is today. As citizens, we should encourage the fight against corruption and not politicize it because we don't like the president. The man that was charged to court stole public funds that belongs to all of us.

Fahdiga:
Exactly the way you distract yourself

jabberjawz:
Not surprised, I personally know this guy, this guy doesn't forgive in his dictionary, d guy believe jazz die, d nigga is too fetish & diabolic, he dealt with one of my colleague....not until God send am go Abuja, b4 e comot hand from my colleague business...evil old man...