The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a former Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Godwin Sunday Audu, over allegations of corrupt enrichment and falsification of age.
Audu was arraigned on Wednesday before Binta Dogonyaro of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Apo, Abuja, on a three-count charge marked CR/634/25.
According to the ICPC, the defendant allegedly abused his office between January 1990 and December 2024 to confer corrupt advantages on himself and falsified his date of birth to unlawfully extend his tenure in public service.
At the commencement of proceedings, defence counsel, L. O. Ali, raised preliminary objections, arguing that “a similar matter was pending before another court” and alleging that “the instant charge was filed in bad faith.”
However, ICPC counsel, Glory Iroegbu, opposed the application, citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
“Arraignment must be concluded before the hearing of any preliminary objections,” Iroegbu told the court.
In her ruling, Justice Dogonyaro upheld the prosecution’s argument.
“The position of the law is clear. The defendant must first take his plea before any preliminary objections can be entertained,” the judge ruled, directing the defendant to enter his plea.
One of the charges alleges that Audu used his position as Acting Comptroller-General of NAQS to “confer corrupt advantage upon himself by procuring the sale of an official Toyota Prado Land Cruiser SUV to himself for the sum of ₦4,000,000.00 without following due process.”
The Commission further alleged that the defendant falsified his age in official records.
“He made a false declaration of age… by stating his date of birth as December 3, 1964, instead of July 25, 1960,” the charge stated.
The ICPC also told the court that the defendant “continued to receive salaries and emoluments between January 2020 and December 2024 beyond his legitimate retirement period,” relying on the alleged falsification.
Audu, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
“I am not guilty of the charges,” the defendant said when his plea was taken.
Following his plea, his counsel applied for bail, which was not opposed by the prosecution.
In granting bail, Justice Dogonyaro said, “The defendant is admitted to bail in the sum of ₦5 million per count with two sureties in like sum.”
The court added that “the sureties must be property owners within the FCT, with at least one being a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 10,” and ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the court registry.
The case was adjourned to May 14, 2026, for commencement of hearing.