The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, has rescheduled the commencement of the trial of a top civil servant in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Bola Audu, who was arraigned on the 15th of February by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for an alleged N72 million fraud.
Justice Yusuf Halilu adjourned the case until June 6th due to the absence of the defense lawyer, Babatunde Adewusi.
Mr. Audu was arraigned by the ICPC on five counts, including the misappropriation of N69 million meant for the purchase of a sport utility vehicle for the office of the President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN).
In another charge, the prosecutor told the court that Mr. Audu allegedly diverted N3 million from government coffers into the union’s election fund.
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Audu, a civil servant in the Office of the Accountant General, was recently suspended by the Federal government over alleged involvement in corruption. He was also suspended from his position and subsequently expelled as a member and President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria over anti-union activities.
Justice Halilu, in granting Audu’s request to adjourn the case, warned that he would not condone any form of excuse or delay in the commencement of Mr. Audu’s trial.