The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Dr. Godwin Sunday Audu, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo, Abuja, over allegations of corrupt enrichment and falsification of age.
Dr. Audu was arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Binta Dogonyaro on a three-count charge marked CR/634/25.
According to the ICPC, the charges stem from alleged actions between January 1990 and December 2024, during which the former NAQS boss was accused of abusing his office for personal gain and falsifying his date of birth to unlawfully extend his stay in the federal civil service.
At the start of proceedings, counsel to the defendant, L. O. Ali, attempted to raise preliminary objections, arguing that a similar matter was already pending before another court and that the charge was filed in bad faith.
However, ICPC counsel, Glory Iroegbu, opposed the application, citing Section 396 (1) and (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which mandates that arraignment must be completed before any preliminary objection is heard.
In her ruling, Justice Dogonyaro upheld the prosecution’s position and directed that the defendant take his plea.
One of the charges alleges that while serving as Acting Comptroller-General of NAQS, Dr. Audu used his office to confer corrupt advantage on himself by procuring the sale of an official Toyota Prado Land Cruiser SUV to himself for ₦4 million without due process, an act said to be contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The Commission also alleged that Dr. Audu made a false declaration of age in January 1990 to officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development by stating his date of birth as December 3, 1964, instead of July 25, 1960.
ICPC further claimed that the defendant continued to receive salaries and emoluments between January 2020 and December 2024 beyond his lawful retirement period, allegedly relying on the falsified date of birth to fraudulently extend his years of service.
Dr. Audu pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following his plea, defence counsel applied for bail, which was not opposed by the prosecution.
Justice Dogonyaro granted him bail in the sum of ₦5 million per count, with two sureties in like sum. The court ruled that the sureties must be property owners within the FCT, with at least one being a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 10. The defendant was also ordered 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.
