The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Wednesday May 17, 2017,
arraigned David Olayinka Olojede, Akingbade Latilo, Dr. Gbadamosi
Basiru, Oluwafemi Kujembola, Amobi Yunusa Akintola and Ogungbemi
Olatokunbo before Justice M. A. Onyetenu of the federal High Court
Osogbo on an Eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy and Money
Laundering.
The defendants however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In view
of their plea, prosecution counsel, Cosmos Ugwu prayed the court for a
trial date and for the remand of the defendants in prison custody.
He also informed the court that he was served a bail application this
morning and needs time to respond.
However, counsels to the defendants
informed the court of their bail applications dated 16th May, 2017 and
filed this morning and thereafter, prayed the court to allow them move
same.
Justice Onyetenu adjourned the case till May 30, 2017 for
hearing of the bail application. The defendants were remanded in prison
custody pending the hearing and determination of their applications.
The defendants were former members of the governing council of the
College of Education, Ila-Oragun. The Commission got wind of their
activities through a petition alleging that they were involved in abuse
of office.
Investigations revealed that sometime in 2014, the Federal
Government through Tetfund as a Special Intervention Fund, released the
sum of 125 Million to the College for the building of a Lecture
Threatre.
The defendants as members of the governing council then,
fraudulently released the sum of N102 Million to the contractor DigitPro
Engineering Technology Ltd chaired by Mr John Ojemuyiwa Ojokerede (Who
is already standing trial before the High Court of Osun State sitting at
Ede on a separate charge).
Upon the release of the mobilization fee to the contractor, the contractor deducted a bribe of N43 Million from the original sum to the Council members as kick back and never executed the contract. The sum was collected by the 1st Defendant and subsequently distributed to the other defendants, who were also members of the council.
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