EFCC Arraigns FUTA VC, Bursar in Court over N24m Fraud

By Oluniyi Akintunde, Akure

The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adebiyi Daramola and the Bursar of the university, Mr Emmanuel Oresegun for alleged fraud and abuse of office.

Daramola and Oresegun were accused of defrauding the university to the tune of N24, 223,484.00 which they allegedly obtained on the pretence that the sum was for their biennial family vacation overseas for the years 2015 and 2016.

Professor Adebiyi Daramola and the Bursar of the university, Mr Emmanuel Oresegun entering the court premises

According to the charge sheet, the suspects also fixed the university’s money in a fix deposit account with WEMA bank account No 1300002035 with the intent of defrauding the institution.

The VC and Bursar were also accused of abuse of office which was contrary to Section 104 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol I Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

They allegedly committed the offence on January 21, 2015.

Counsels to the suspects, Mr Adebayo Adenipekun, SAN and Theophilus O prayed the court to admit the VC and the bursar to bail in most liberal term, saying that their offences are bailable one.

The defence counsels posited that the accused VC and Bursar have already be enjoying their administrative bail when they were arrested by the EFCC.

Objecting the bail application, prosecution counsel, Dr. B. Ubi, said an application seeking for bail must place materials facts before the court.

Ubi however asked for short adjournment date from the court to enable him to study the bail application ground.

Ruling on the bail application, the presiding judge, Justice A. Ademola granted bail to the accused in the sum of N10million with two sureties each.

The sureties, according to Justice Ademola, must be public servants residing within the court jurisdiction with three years tax clearance and two sized passport each.

Justice Ademola thereafter adjourned the case till March 20, 21 and 22, 2017 for mention.