IBADAN— An Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court, Thursday, struck out the charges against 10 persons accused of defrauding the Oyo State Government of N1.59 billion in pension funds. Chief Magistrate Durosaro Kehinde-Tijani struck out the case based on the application made by a Principal State Counsel, Ademola Ojekunle, on June 4. Tijani said striking out of the charges against the defendants would not have any negative impact on the defendants. She cited section 75 and 211(1) of the 1999 constitution earlier cited by Ojemola empowering the Attorney General to withdraw the matter. The accused were Alhaji Hakeem Muili, Alhaja Iyabo Giwa, Adeduntan Johnson,
Oguntayo Banji and Adesina Jimoh. Others were Johnson Bosede, Adebiyi Olasumbo, Kareem Rasheed, Muili Adedamola and Salewa Adedeji The defendants were rearrested by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) immediately they stepped out of the court’s premises. Mr Adebayo Ojo, the Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, told NAN that the EFCC had, however, taken over the matter. Ojo said the defendants would be charged to court if found guilty after a fresh investigation to be conducted by the EFCC. NAN recalls that the prosecutor, Ademola Ojekunle, had told the court that Ojo had instructed him to withdraw the charges against the accused persons. Ojekunle said that the withdrawal of the charges would aid further investigation and prosecution of the matter at the state High Court. But the defence counsel, Adeyinka Okunade, opposed the application for withdrawal. Okunade argued that the prosecution could continue its investigation and present the outcome while the case remained in court. He also said that it would not be in the interest of justice if the application for withdrawal was granted. The defense counsel added that there was the likelihood that the accused persons could be re-arrested, describing this as an abuse of court process. Ojekunle, however, urged the court not to act on the speculation that the accused may be arrested. It would also be recalled that the 10 officials of the Pension Board were arraigned on Feb. 25 for alleged N1.59 billion fraud. They were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, abuse of office and stealing.
Oguntayo Banji and Adesina Jimoh. Others were Johnson Bosede, Adebiyi Olasumbo, Kareem Rasheed, Muili Adedamola and Salewa Adedeji The defendants were rearrested by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) immediately they stepped out of the court’s premises. Mr Adebayo Ojo, the Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, told NAN that the EFCC had, however, taken over the matter. Ojo said the defendants would be charged to court if found guilty after a fresh investigation to be conducted by the EFCC. NAN recalls that the prosecutor, Ademola Ojekunle, had told the court that Ojo had instructed him to withdraw the charges against the accused persons. Ojekunle said that the withdrawal of the charges would aid further investigation and prosecution of the matter at the state High Court. But the defence counsel, Adeyinka Okunade, opposed the application for withdrawal. Okunade argued that the prosecution could continue its investigation and present the outcome while the case remained in court. He also said that it would not be in the interest of justice if the application for withdrawal was granted. The defense counsel added that there was the likelihood that the accused persons could be re-arrested, describing this as an abuse of court process. Ojekunle, however, urged the court not to act on the speculation that the accused may be arrested. It would also be recalled that the 10 officials of the Pension Board were arraigned on Feb. 25 for alleged N1.59 billion fraud. They were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, abuse of office and stealing.
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