Financial malfeasance: Former Surveyor General of the Federation arraigned

Etim Effiong

A High Court sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, has arraigned a former Surveyor-General of the Federation, Ebisintei Awudu for allegedly stealing over N9 billion.

The case against Awudu is filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission, ICPC and is being prosecuted by Mr Wahab Shittu.

Awudu, who is standing trial on charges of 22 counts, is alleged to have used his position as Surveyor General of the Federation to award contracts to the company in which he has interest.

According to the charge, the accused in the month of October 2014 or thereabout at Abuja while being a public officer to wit a Director in the Office of Surveyor General of the Federation has a private interest in the contract of the Maintenance of Data Centre awarded by the office of the Surveyor General.

He was also accused of giving unfair and undue advantages to some company to get the contract.

The charge also posited that Awudu obtained the sum of $656,000 from the Managing Director of M. Yahaya Associate, a contractor and thereby committed an offence.

The defendant was also accused of obtaining 35 per cent of the total value of a contract awarded to F.A Kassim Survey Associate, thereby committing an offence.

When the matter came up for hearing on July 12, 2021, before Justice Adeniyi for the 22 counts, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges and was admitted to bail in the sum of N100 million with a surety in likes sum.

He is also to deposit his international travel documents with the court.

The surety must be equivalent to a Permanent Secretary in the Civil Service of the state or federation.

The Prosecutor led by Mr. Shittu made case for accelerated hearing.

The Presiding judge adjourned the matter to September 23, 24, 26 and 27, 2021.