A former Director-General of the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC), Jos, Professor Linus Okon Asuquo, was arraigned at the Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, on Tuesday.
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He was arraigned alongside three others over alleged corruption and unlawful award of public contracts amounting to several millions of naira.
The defendants, brought before Justice Dorcas Agishi, were Okonkwo Thaddeus Anthony, Etim James Amana, as well as two corporate entities, Valentino Resources Limited and MIS Software Nigeria Limited.
They were docked by the Federal Republic of Nigeria on a 10-count charge brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, bordering on abuse of office, reckless award of contracts, approval of payments without due process, and money laundering, contrary to the provisions of the Public Enterprises Regulatory Commission Act, Cap P39, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the prosecution, Professor Asuquo allegedly committed the offences between February and October 2022, while serving as Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the NMDC.
The charge alleged that in October 2022, the former DG approved the payment of ₦51,514,484.56 to Armada Multi-United Co. Ltd for the procurement of an electric crucible furnace and accessories, despite allegedly knowing that the company was in default of performance.
He was further accused of recklessly awarding the same contract at the sum of ₦58,999,400.37, contrary to accepted procurement practices, and approving full payment without the required performance bond.
In another set of counts, the prosecution alleged that Professor Asuquo, in February 2022, approved the payment of ₦16,579,656.71 to Valentino Resources Limited for the procurement and installation of fettling facilities, even though the contractor was allegedly in default.
The prosecution further alleged that the former DG knowingly took possession of the said sum, which it claimed formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, an offence punishable under the Money Laundering Act.
In a separate count, Etim James Amana and MIS Software Nigeria Limited were accused of failing to execute a public contract awarded to them in March 2019 for the supply, installation, training, and commissioning of an Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer for the NMDC.
When the charges were read to them, all the defendants pleaded not guilty. Following their pleas, Justice Agishi admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of ₦25 million each, with one surety in like sum.
The court ordered that the sureties must own landed property within the jurisdiction of the court and further directed the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court.
The matter was thereafter adjourned to February 24, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
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