Court grants former Surveyor-General N100m bail for N2bn graft
The FCT High Court in Maitama on Monday admitted Ebisintei Awudu, former Surveyor-General of the Federation to bail in the sum of N100 million.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), arraigned Mr Awudu on Monday before Olusegun Adeniyi, judge, on a 22-count charge of fraud.
Ruling in the application, Justice Olusegun Adeniyi also ordered Mr Awudu to produce a surety in like sum, who must be a director-general or a permanent secretary.
Mr Adeniyi adjourned the matter until September 13 for trial.
The ICPC alleged that Mr Awudu awarded multiple contracts worth over N2 billion to a company in which he was a director and shareholder as well as to relations and associates.
ICPC also alleged that he received over N300 million as gratification from a contractor handling and executing different contracts for the office of the surveyor-general of the federation.
This, ICPC said, was an offence contrary to Section (10) (a) (i) and punishable under Section 10 (a) (ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Mr Awudu, however, pleaded not guilty to all counts.
His counsel, F.B. Olorogun, prayed the court to grant bail to his client.
Operatives of the ICPC had, in July 2019, raided Mr Awudu’s office over allegations of contract fraud and theft of public assets.
Consequently, Mr Awudu vacated his seat in September 2019.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
Nigeria positioned to power clean energy Future: Tinubu
Mr Tinubu expressed his firm commitment to improve the developmental partnership between the European Union and Nigeria.
Africa
Benin, Liberia, Sierra Leone roll out malaria vaccines
With the announcement on World Malaria Day, the number of African countries incorporating the vaccines into their childhood immunisation programmes increased to eight.
NationWide
Group urges FG to decongest custodial centres after Suleja jailbreak
”We also call on the public to pay more attention to issues concerning corrections in Nigeria.”
Politics
PDP unveils 200-member campaign council for Edo 2024 guber election
The advisory council has seven eminent members of the state.
Africa
ECOWAS moves to tackle drug abuse in Sierra Leone, other countries
ECOWAS said the workshop was also to support efforts to tackle drug abuse and provide resources and strategies for member states, particularly Sierra Leone.
Lagos
FG to resume resurfacing of Third Mainland Bridge: Official
She said that the exact dates for the renewed construction would be announced soon.