EFCC presents first witness in N1.9bn fraud case against ex-federal highways officials
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented its first prosecution witness in the ongoing ₦1.9 billion fraud trial of Augustine Olowoniyan, a former Deputy Director of Highways at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and Sulaiman Muhammed, a surveyor in the Department of Highways and Planning.
The trial resumed on Thursday before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja. Both Olowoniyan and Muhammed are facing a three-count charge bordering on the alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds meant for acquiring titles for federal roads across the country between March 2019 and July 2020.
According to a Friday statement by the EFCC, the witness, William Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank of Africa (UBA), testified that the bank responded to an EFCC request regarding the defendants’ accounts.
Abimbola, led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Abba Mohammed (SAN), confirmed that Olowoniyan maintained three accounts with UBA, while Muhammed held one. He also referenced two accounts linked to another customer, Ogueri Paschal, as part of the investigation.
He explained that statements of accounts and account opening documents were retrieved from the bank’s system and verified for accuracy before being submitted to the EFCC, accompanied by a certificate of identification.
The court admitted several documents into evidence, including EFCC’s letter to UBA dated October 30, 2023, and UBA’s responses with attached certificates of compliance, marked as Exhibits PW1A and PW1B.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case to May 26 and 29, 2025, for continuation of hearing.
