CASE NUMBER 10919:

EX NIHSA DG JAILED OVER DIVERSION OF N603MILLION

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Alleged Perpetrators(s)

John Ayoade Shamonda

Location (Town / State)

Abuja, Abuja

Date of Event

11 Jul 2019

Date of republication

11 July every year

Case category (Choose all that apply)

Case Summary

John Ayoade Shamonda, Former Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has been sentenced to one year imprisonment on 10-count charge over diversion of N603million earmarked fund for sallah welfare package, etc.

Full story

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) has secured the conviction of the former Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr. John Ayoade Shamonda, for the diversion of N603milion earmarked for the rehabilitation and replacement of damaged hydrological equipment, to fund sallah welfare package.
The said fund was an intervention fund geared towards the rehabilitation and replacement of damaged hydrological equipment across the country due to the 2012 flooding. The convict was arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on knowingly making false statement and virement without approval and the offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 16; 17(1)(c) and 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, as stated by the ICPC spokesman, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa.
The convict was arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja. During the trial, the court examined the 26 documents admitted as exhibits and as well as the trial of seven witnesses that was called to the stand. The court was informed of the process that involved the release of the fund and its disbursement. According to Okoduwa, the said fund was released by the then Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe on request from Shomonda while being the DG of NIHSA, for N603million targeted towards the rehabilitation and replacement of damaged hydrological equipment across the country. The DG consequently disbursed the fund using his discretion, approving N2, 767, 500.00 to be used for “Sallah welfare package” which was paid to all staff of the agency, and subsequently spending N25, 749, 390.60 on a National Stakeholders Workshop. It was also alleged that Shamonda also purchased two Toyota Prado jeeps and two Hiace buses totaling the sum of N49, 157, 955. 00.”
Justice Ademola expressed disappointment in the former DG’s actions. He stated that “the essence of sentencing is not only to punish the convict but to send a warning signal to the general public”. In his judgment, the Former NIHSA DG was found guilty and convicted on counts 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 to one year imprisonment or an option of fine of N50, 000 on each count which sentences are to run concurrently, while he was discharged and acquitted on counts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.

External links/URLs

https://www.icirnigeria.org/court-jails-ex-dg-shamonda-over-diversion-of-n603m-rehabilitation-fund/
https://punchng.com/ex-nihsa-dg-jailed-for-using-state-fund-for-sallah/

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