N800m fraud: You’re not competent to try me, Ogunlewe challenges court

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NIGERIA: THE former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, is kicking against the competence of the Ogun State High Court to try him.

Ogunlewe, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, and the former Bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi, are standing trial before the court presided over by Justice Olatokunbo Majekodunmi, for allegedly stealing over N800million belonging to the university.  They are facing 18-count charges, which included conspiracy, stealing, obtaining money by pretence and abuse of office.

Ogunlewe, a one-time Works Minister, on Monday challenged the court, saying it lacked jurisdiction‎ to hear the suit filed against him and two others.

The trial, which was fixed for last Friday, could not commence due to the absence of Justice Majekodunmi, who was said to be bereaved, but Ogunlewe has indicated interest to kick against his trial by filing an application asking the court to quash the case against him.

He said through his lead counsel, Mr. Wale Adesokan, who filed his application on Monday, that the Ogun High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

Ogunlewe further stated that the application was filed to put an end to the trial, but the lead counsel to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ben Ubi, opposed the application.

Obi maintained that Ogunlewe and others have case to answer, just as he explained that the commission would further study the application ahead of its hearing before the presiding judge.

“We are opposing the application,” he said, adding: “They have case to answer‎, and the accused should face the trial rather than dancing round.”

Obi stressed: “We have acted strictly based on law and we have not offended the law.”

But, Justice Majekodunmi, after hearing the arguments of both parties, advised on the need to make progress on the case.

She, however, adjourned hearing on the application to January 27, February 9 and 10, 2017.