The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called its first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial involving Augustine Olowoniyan, a former deputy director of Highways at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and Sulaiman Muhammed, a surveyor in the same department. The two men face allegations of diverting approximately ₦1.9 billion, funds meant for acquiring titles for federal roads across Nigeria between March 2019 and July 2020.
During the hearing on Thursday before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, William Abimbola, a compliance officer at United Bank for Africa (UBA), gave evidence under questioning by the prosecution lawyer, Abba Mohammed (SAN). Abimbola told the court that the bank had received official requests from the EFCC to investigate the bank accounts of the defendants.
He explained that Olowoniyan holds three different accounts with UBA, while Muhammed has one account. Additionally, Abimbola said the EFCC was also looking into accounts linked to another person, Ogueri Paschal, who has two accounts at the bank. According to the witness, the EFCC requested detailed bank statements and account opening documents to help in their investigation.
Abimbola described the process at the bank, saying, “The EFCC requested statements of accounts and account opening packages. The statement was extracted from the bank’s server system and compared with what we have on the computer to ensure that it is the same. Our information is stored in the computer.” He added that soft copies were printed into hard copies and verified for accuracy before being sent to the EFCC along with a certificate of identification, which he signed on behalf of his supervisor who was on leave.
The court admitted the EFCC’s letter requesting investigation dated October 30, 2023, as well as UBA’s response on October 31, 2023, including certificates of compliance for the accused and for Ogueri Paschal. These documents were entered into evidence as Exhibits PW1A and PW1B.
The defendants face a three-count charge that accuses them of diverting public funds, an act contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000. The case was adjourned until May 26 and 29 for continuation.
