Ola Ajayi, Ibadan
FORMER Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, and two other chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olanrewaju Otiti and Senator Ayo Adeseun who are standing trial over N650m allegedly collected for the funding of the 2015 election in Oyo State were Thursady granted bail by a Federal High Court in Ibadan. Olajumoke Akinjide While Oloye Akinjide was granted bail on self recognition and based on her cooperative attitude during investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the other two suspects had some stringent terms attached to their bail.
The court presided over by Justice
Joyce Abdulmalik granted the other two suspects, Chief Olanrewaju Otiti and
Senator Adeseun bail in the sum of N100m and one surety each in the like sum.
The court which started sitting exactly 9am also added that the surety must be
within the jurisdiction of the court and must have a landed property. In
addition, the surety who must be a civil servant or public servant must be at
the level of a director. Added to the bail terms of Senator Adeseun was a
clause that he must submit his international passport to the court pending the
determination of the suit.
The prosecution counsel, Mr Idris Mohammed who did
not oppose the bail applications of all the suspects explained to the court
that the claim by Mr Adeniyi Ishola that his client was detained for 40days by
the anti-graft commission was with the permission of a magistrate court during
the process of investigation. The EFCC counsel further told the court not to
grant Senator Adeseun bail on self recognition noting that at a time the
commission needed him, he did not present himself.
Before the application for
bail was moved, counsel to Senator Adeseun aligned with the earlier plea of the
counsel to 1st defendant, Pastor Richard Ogunwole(SAN) on behalf of his client
for not appearing in court with other suspects at the last sitting. Later,
charges were read to Senator Adeseun who pleaded not guilty to the 17-count
charge. According to the count charge marked FHC/IB/26c/2017, the former
Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation and Budget Planning, Adeseun was
accused of collecting N134,405,000 from the said N650m, according to the
prosecution.
Out of the fund, the Senator allegedly gave N10,750,000 to Prince
Ayuba, N7,930,000 to Prince Ogundipe, N13,395,000 to Gafaru Salami, N7,850,000
to Atilade Oseni, N8, 750,000 to Azeez Adeyemo, N9,450,000 to Olawale Oyegbami,
N9,900,000 to Chief Adenrele Adeyemo, N10,100,000 to Apostle Olamoyegun, and
N9,850,000 to Alhaji Alabi. After the ruling, counsel to second and third
defendants pleaded with the court to allow their clients be in the custody of
the EFCC pending the time their bail terms would be perfected. His prayer was
granted and the case was adjourned to September 12, 2017 for commencement of
trial if the plea bargain arrangement had not been finalised.
Vanguard News
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