The trial of a former Director-General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr. John Ayoade Shamonda, opened before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Apo, Abuja.
Earlier in May, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had arraigned Mr. Shamonda before Justice Ademola for alleged mismanagement of N603 million intervention funds meant for rehabilitation and replacement of damaged hydrological equipment of NIHSA.
The accused person’s actions were contrary to and are punishable under Sections 16, 17 (1) (C), and 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
During the trial, the prosecution counsel of ICPC, Mr. Okechukwu Igbudu called the head of the Investigation team, Mr. Joshua Wakili, to the witness box to testify on the outcome of his investigation to the court.
In his testimony, Wakili tendered some documents to substantiate his findings and they were admitted in court as exhibits.
He also testified that some of the purchases and disbursement of funds made by Mr. Shamonda were outside the approval given by the Presidency and Ministry of Water Resources.
The defence counsel, Mr. Michael Bello, cross-examined the ICPC witness on the admissibility of some of the documents tendered in court.
At the conclusion of the cross-examination, Justice Ademola adjourned the case to 7th December 2016 for further hearing.