The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arraigned a former Deputy Director of Highways at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Augustine Olowoniyan, alongside a surveyor in the same ministry, Sulaiman Muhammed, for alleged N1.9bn fraud.

The defendants werw arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja.

The defendants were arraigned on three counts related to the alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds totaling N1,936,961,649.00.

According to the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the funds were intended for the acquisition of titles for federal roads nationwide between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020, but were allegedly diverted for personal use.

Upon reading the charges, both defendants pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed (SAN), requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants in the correctional centre.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, whilst serving as Deputy Director Highways, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and Project Coordinator for the acquisition of titles for Federal Roads, and Suleiman Abdulkadir Muhammed, whilst serving as Surveyor of the Department of Highways and Planning, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, between March 4, 2019, and October 21, 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, used your office to confer corrupt advantage upon yourselves by putting to your own use the sum of N807,053,000.00 despite being funds budgeted for the acquisition of titles for Federal Roads Nationwide, thereby committing an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

However, the defence counsel for the first and second defendants, J.K. Kolawole and A.S.U. Garba, requested a short adjournment to file bail applications and requested that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody.

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case until April 3, 2025, to hear the bail applications and remanded the defendants at Kuje correctional centre.

Air Peace has said travelers will enjoy up to N600,000 reduction in airfares when they connect from cities across Nigeria to London with one additional luggage.

The airline said this in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the promo runs until March 31, 2025, with an extended travel period until April 15, 2025.

Air Peace in its statement signed by the Head of Corporate Communications, Dr Ejike Ndiulo, said the airline continues to redefine international travel with its London route, offering seamless connectivity from major domestic destinations.

It said, “As the largest airline in West and Central Africa, Air Peace remains steadfast in its vision of fostering prosperity through reliable air travel, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a key player in global aviation.

“With its expanding domestic and international routes, the airline is making it easier for people to explore new opportunities and for businesses to thrive in an interconnected world.”

Ndiulo said the Chairman of the airline, Allen Onyenma, had made the announcement at the Silverbird Man of the Year 2024 Awards held recently in Lagos.

He added that at the event, through a raffle draw organized by the airline, five winners namely; Abodede Samuel Opeyemi, Comfort Bassey, and Folajimi Olayinka Oduyebo won return economy tickets to any of Air Peace’s domestic destinations, while Osuagwu Nwamarachi and Eremu Precious struck gold with economy return tickets to London, thus providing them with seamless travel experiences across Air Peace’s extensive route network.

According to Ndiulo, the initiative underscores the airline’s mission to make air travel more accessible while empowering individuals and businesses to reach their full potential.

Quoting the airline’s founder, Ndiulo, emphasized the airline’s role in driving socio-economic development through its robust CSR initiatives.

“At Air Peace, we believe that aviation is more than just transportation; it is a bridge to opportunities, a catalyst for economic growth, and a tool for empowerment. We are committed to supporting individuals and businesses by connecting dreams with possibilities,” he stated.

A man, Japhet Akawe, on Wednesday, told an Ogun State High Court how a suspected armed robber, simply identified as Moses, raped his wife (name withheld) on a farm in the Sagamu area of the state.

Akawe, who was testifying in an ongoing trial of Moses over alleged rape and armed robbery, before Justice O. S. Oloyede, added that the defendant allegedly snatched his wife’s mobile phone and a motorcycle belonging to his brother.

The witness narrated that on March 18, 2023, while he was away from home, his wife, sister and brother had gone to their farm to harvest cassava before the defendant attacked them at gunpoint.

He narrated further that his wife called him on March 18, 2023, through his sister’s mobile phone and informed him that while they were on the farm, the defendant appeared to them, snatched his wife’s mobile phone, dragged her into the bush and unlawfully had sex with her.

Akawe said, “On March 18, 2023, at about 3 pm, I received a phone call from my wife through my younger sister’s phone and she told me that she and my younger brother, Joseph and his wife had gone to the farm to uproot cassava. She told me that the defendant forcefully snatched her phone, dragged her to the bush, forcefully had sex with her, took her naked picture and put pepper substance on her face.

“I called my friend to take her to the clinic where she was treated. I called my wife’s phone number and the defendant picked it up and asked if I was not happy he had not kidnapped my wife before he ended the call.

“Afterwards, the defendant called me with a number and issued a warning that I should not call my wife’s number and the number he called with, or he would come for my family. I called my wife the next morning through my younger sister’s phone to go to the police station and report that a criminal had collected her phone so that if anything happened, they would hold her responsible.”

He continued that following the incident, the owner of the motorcycle that was allegedly stolen from his brother charged his brother to court and he had to pay for the cost of the motorcycle before the case was struck out.

He continued, “On Thursday, March 20, 2023, the owner of the motorcycle which the defendant forcefully collected from my brother arrested my brother and took him to court. The court granted him bail, but I was not around so he couldn’t meet the bail conditions and was taken to prison.

“When I came back, I met with the owner of the motorcycle, negotiated with him and paid him the money for the motorcycle, then the case was struck out in court.”

Akawe went further to tell the court that he reported the matter to the Sagamu Police Station and gave them the number that the defendant had allegedly called to threaten him and his family.

Akawe stressed that three months after reporting to the police, the number was tracked which led to the arrest of the defendant.

Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, D. O. Efuwape, the witness said he had not met the defendant before the incident.

When asked how he was able to identify that the defendant was the one who called him, Akawe said through the call the defendant made to him.

After listening to the testimony, Justice Oloyede adjourned the case to May 20, 2025, (today) for continuation of trial.