Ondo Court Acquits Former Speaker And Two Others Accused Of N2.4M Fraud

Hon. Bamidele David Oleyeloogun, the immediate past Speaker of the State House of Assembly alongside Hon. Felemu-Gudu Bankole and a top civil servant, Segun Oyadeyi, have been discharged and acquitted by the Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure of the N2.4 million fraud charges levelled against them.

The trio had been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) three years ago on charges of conspiracy and conferring undue advantages on themselves through their official positions.

Delivering judgment, Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye ruled that the EFCC failed to prove the allegations of conspiracy and corruption beyond a reasonable doubt. The anti-graft agency had alleged in charge AK/106C/2022 that the accused misappropriated N2.4 million belonging to the State Assembly, funds purportedly released for a seminar the lawmakers and civil servants were scheduled to attend.

The EFCC claimed the alleged fraud occurred in 2019 when the lawmakers were supposed to participate in a two-day seminar organized by the National Productivity Centre, Lagos. Funds were allegedly requested for four members of the House Committee on Tertiary Education to attend the seminar, scheduled for December 11 and 12, 2019, but the seminar was never held. The prosecution further claimed the funds released by the state’s Ministry of Finance were diverted into private accounts.

However, counsel for the defendants, Mr. Femi Emodamori, argued that the EFCC lacked jurisdiction to prosecute the case, describing the charge as flawed and legally defective. He maintained there was no evidence of corruption and requested the court to dismiss the charges. He emphasized that the N2.4 million remained in the account of the House of Assembly, with no proof the money was misappropriated.

In his verdict, Justice Adebusoye dismissed the testimony of the prosecution’s key witness, Hon. Ogundeji Iroju, citing contradictions between his statements during examination and cross-examination. The judge criticized the prosecution for failing to call other lawmakers and civil servants who were listed to attend the seminar, describing this omission as detrimental to the case.

The court found no evidence that the funds were transferred to private accounts or used for personal gain by the defendants. Concluding that the prosecution failed to establish the elements of conspiracy or undue advantage, the court discharged and acquitted all three defendants.