The trial of former Director-General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, John Shamonda, has begun at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, in the Apo district of Abuja.

The former DG was arraigned earlier in May by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC before Justice Adeniyi Ademola on allegations of mismanagement of N603 million intervention funds meant for rehabilitation and replacement of damaged hydrological equipment of NIHSA.

According to the charge, Shamonda’s actions contravened Sections 16, 17 (1) (C), and 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

At the resumption of trial, counsel to the ICPC, Okechukwu Igbudu, called the first prosecution witness, Joshua Wakili, who is also the head of the Investigation team, to testify to the court the outcome of his investigation.

In his testimony, Wakili tendered various documents to substantiate his findings and they were admitted in court as exhibits.

He also told the court that some of the purchases and disbursement of funds made by Shamonda during his time as DG of NIHSA, were outside the approval given by the Presidency and Ministry of Water Resources.

Defence counsel, Michael Bello, cross-examined the ICPC witness on the admissibility of some of the documents tendered in court, after which Justice Ademola adjourned the case to December 7 2016 for further hearing.