The Ogun State High Court yesterday remanded a former Minister of Works and Pro Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, in prison custody pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.
The court also seized their international passports in order to restrict their movement.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned the two accused persons alongside the Bursar of the university, Mr. Moses Olusola Ilesanmi, for alleged N800million fraud.
They were arraigned before Justice O. O Majekodunmi of the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, on an 18-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, obtaining money by false pretence and abuse of office.
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, however, said the accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The statement said: “One of the counts read: That you Senator Ogunlewe, Prof. Olusola Oyewole and Moses Ilesanmi between the months of September and October, 2013 at Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud did deposit the sum of N400, 000,000 only property of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in a fixed deposit account without due process.”
Another count reads: “That you Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, Prof. Olusola Oyewole and Moses Olusola Ilesanmi sometime between the months of September and October, 2013 at Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud did deposit the sum of N442,849,898.00 (Four Hundred and Forty Two Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety Eight Naira) only property of Federal University of Abeokuta in a fixed deposit without due process.
“In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, Bennedict Ubi and Festus Ojo, asked the court to remand them in prison custody pending the commencement of trial.
“The counsel to the first, second and third defendants, Wale Adesokan (SAN), Benjamin Ogunmodede and Lapite Ademola, urged the court to admit them to bail having filed the various applications before the court.
“ Having listened to the submissions of counsel on the bail applications, Justice Majekodunmi granted the first and second defendants (Ogunlewe and Oyewole) bail in the sum of N50m with two sureties in like sum.
“ Sureties must own properties within the jurisdiction and one of them must be a civil servant on grade level 15.
“The defendants are also to submit their international passports to the court registrar.
The court ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
Justice Majekodunmi adjourned the ruling on the bail application of the third defendant till Monday, 28 November and fixed 16th, 19th and 20th of December for the commencement of trial.
Meanwhile, the EFCC yesterday arraigned one Folashade Olukemi Adeleke before Justice O. O. Majekodunmi of the State High Court sitting at Abeokuta, Ogun State on a two-count charge bordering on stealing.
She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges
One of the charge reads: “That you Folashade on or about the 18th of November 2013 at Abeokuta within the Abeokuta Judicial Division stole the sum of N4,000,000.00 (Four Million Naira) , property of Mrs. Virginia Ngozi Ojelade, which sum you received as part payment for the purchase of a property situate and lying at Ajebo Road Estate, Abeokuta”
In view of her plea, the prosecution counsel, Ben Ubi and Festus Ojo, asked the court for a trial date, while the defence counsel, Bayo Adegbite, moved a motion for the bail of the defendant.
Justice Majekodunmi granted her bail in the sum of N5m (Five million naira) and two sureties in like sum. One of them must be a land owner within the jurisdiction and a grade level 12 officer. She must deposit her International passport with the court. The matter has been adjourned to 21st of December, 2016 for trial.
Folashade allegedly defrauded the petitioner under the guise that a four-bedroom bungalow was available for sale and after making payment of N7,180,000.00(Seven Million, One Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) for the property, she was later informed that the owner was no longer interested in the sale of the property but only N3,530, 000 was refunded to her.
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