N800m fraud: Court rejects Ogunlewe’s bid to escape EFCC’s prosecution
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By Olusola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)
NIGERIA: STRIDENT moves by the former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in Ogun State, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, to evade trial for alleged corruption have failed.
An Abeokuta High Court on Thursday threw out his application to prevent the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), from trying him over alleged abuse of office and financial impropriety, which included misappropriation of N800 million at the university where he recently resigned.
Not only Ogunlewe, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, and ex-Bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi, are also facing 18-count charges of corruption following a petition written against them to the EFCC by three whistleblowers – Mr. A.O. Salaam, Mr. O. P. Somoye, and Mr. F.A Bankole – who are staffers of FUNAAB.
Ogunleye, a former Works Minister, had prior approached the court seeking to quash the charges against him on the grounds that the charges are bad for misjoinder of offences, misjoinder of offenders and for duplicity.
Counsel to the ex-Pro-Chancellor, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, at the resumed hearing of the case, had argued before the court that the proof of evidence produced by the complainant neither link his client to the aforesaid counts nor does it disclose any prima facie against him.
His counsel further argued that the consent of the Attorney-General of Ogun State as the Law officer was not obtained as required by law before filing the charges.
However, after the adoption of the written addresses made by parties, the court presided over by Justice Olatokuboh Majekodunmi dismissed the application.
The court rejected all the grounds raised by Ogunlewe to escape prosecution after which EFCC counsel, Ben Ubi, asked for immediate commencement of the trial.
Ubi stated that three witnesses to be called by the commission were already in court and ready to testify.
But all the counsels to the three accused persons demanded an adjournment on the ground that they were just served additional proofs of evidence and would need time to study the documents.
The court, thereafter, conceded to their arguments and adjourned the case to March 8 and 10, 2017 for the commencement of trial.
Ogunlewe and the two other accused persons were first arraigned on Friday, November 25, 2016 on charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing, obtaining money by false pretence and abuse of office.
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