A former Director- General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr. John Ayoade Shamonda, has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for an alleged mismanagement of N603 million intervention funds meant for rehabilitation and replacement of damaged hydrological equipment of the agency.
Mr. Shamonda was arraigned on an 8-count charge before Hon. Justice O.A Adeniyi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, on offences bordering on the falsification of statements on usage of the relief fund and diversion of part of the funds to service other contracts outside the approved purpose.
The accused actions are contrary to Sections 16, 17 (1) (C), and 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same sections.
The prosecuting counsel of the Commission Mr. Okechukwu Igbudu also accused Shamonda of diverting and spending part of the money on a workshop, which contravenes Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
After the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty to all allegations laid against him by the Commission.
Counsel to the accused, Mr. Michael Bello, tendered an application for bail before the court based on the fundamental human rights of his client.
Justice Adeniyi, in his ruling on the application, granted the accused bail in the sum of N10million and a surety not below the level of a Director in the Federal Civil Service or be remanded in ICPC custody till the date of trial if the bail terms were not met.
He further ruled that 11th and 12th of July, 2016 respectively would be the days for continuation of trial.