By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, arraigned Dr. Godwin Sunday Audu, former Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo, Abuja, over allegations of corrupt enrichment and falsification of age.
In an official statement, ICPC Spokesperson J. Okor Odey disclosed that Dr. Audu faced a three-count charge, filed under CR/634/25, which accuses him of abusing his office to confer corrupt advantage upon himself and manipulating his date of birth to unlawfully extend his tenure in the federal public service between January 1990 and December 2024.
At the commencement of proceedings before Honourable Justice Binta Dogonyaro, counsel to the defendant, L. O. Ali, sought to raise preliminary objections, arguing that a similar matter was pending in another court and alleging that the current charge was filed in bad faith. The ICPC’s counsel, Glory Iroegbu, opposed the application, citing Sections 396 (1) and (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which mandates that arraignment must be concluded before hearing preliminary objections. Justice Dogonyaro upheld the prosecution’s position and directed the defendant to take his plea.
According to the charges, Dr. Audu, while serving as Acting Comptroller-General of NAQS, procured the sale of an official Toyota Prado Land Cruiser SUV to himself for ₦4,000,000 without following due process, in violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The ICPC also alleged that he falsified his date of birth in January 1990, declaring it as December 3, 1964, instead of his actual birth date of July 25, 1960. Relying on this falsification, the defendant allegedly continued to receive salaries and emoluments from January 2020 to December 2024, well beyond his legitimate retirement period.
Dr. Audu pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following his plea, his counsel applied for bail, which the prosecution did not oppose. Justice Dogonyaro granted bail in the sum of ₦5,000,000 per count, with two sureties for each, specifying that the sureties must be property owners within the FCT and that at least one must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 10. The defendant was also ordered to surrender his international passport and relevant travel documents to the court registry.
The case was adjourned to May 14, 2026, for the commencement of hearing, marking the next phase in the ICPC’s pursuit of accountability for alleged corruption and abuse of office in federal institutions.
