Former President of the Senior Civil Servants Association of Nigeria (ASCSN), Bola Audu, has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for an alleged N72 million fraud.
The case was brought before Yusuf Halilu, a judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court at Maitama, Abuja.
Audu, a civil servant in the Office of the Accountant General, was recently suspended by the Federal Government over alleged corruption charges.
Additionally, he has been expelled as a member and President of ASCSN due to anti-union activities.
The government brought a five-count charge against Audu, alleging misappropriation of N69 million intended for the purchase of a sport utility vehicle for the office of the president of ASCSN.
Furthermore, Audu is accused of diverting N3 million.
Audu pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him on Thursday, February 15, 2024.
Following his plea, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, an Assistant Chief Legal Officer at the ICPC, requested a trial commencement date. However, Audu’s lawyer, Babatunde Adewusi, urged the court to grant his client bail.
In response, the judge, Halilu, acknowledged that bail is a constitutional right, especially depending on the nature of the alleged offense. He emphasized the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise and stated that the offenses in question were bailable.
Consequently, Audu was granted bail on the condition of producing two sureties who must be directors in the federal civil service.
These directors are required to provide letters of employment and promotion to the directorship rank in the civil service. Failure to meet the bail conditions would result in Audu’s remand at Kuje Prison in Abuja.
The trial was adjourned until May 6 for commencement.
