Court Remands Osun Council Boss, OSCOED Director in Prison, Grant Bail to APC Leader, Provost

By Fatai Akanji and Olabode Abolaji

The newly appointed Executive Secretary of Atakumosa-East Local Government of Osun state, Mr Oluwafemi Kujenbola, former Bursar of the Osun State College of Education, Ila, Mr Akin Latilo and a member of the college’s Governing Council, Mr David Olayinka Olojede have been re-remanded in prison by a Federal High Court in Osogbo.

Kujenbola, Latilo who is now the Bursar of the Osun State College of Ilesa and Olojede had on May 16 been remanded in prison on fraud allegations leveled against them by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

The trio was remanded alongside Acting Provost of the Osun State College of Education, Ila, Dr. Basiru Gbadamosi, the Director of Works, Mr. Ogungbemi and the Osun West Senatorial Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Yinusa Amobi, who were accused of complicity in the N300m fraud that rocked the institution.

At the resumed hearing on today, all the suspects applied for bail but were denied, except for those who denied their involvement in the matter.

Justice Malqueen Onyetenu of the court granted bail to Gbadamosi, Ogungbemi and Amobi. She, however, sent back Kujenbola, Latilo and Olojede to Ilesa prison where they were previously remanded.

The six suspects are all standing trial on a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on the alleged illegal diversion of N300 million meant for the construction of Amphitheatre (Lecture Theatre) and other projects in the institution

Gbadamosi, Ogungbemi and Amobi were released on bail in the sum of N20m and a surety who must be a Civil Servant on Grade level 16 each.

The court ruled that each of the surety must submit his/her International Passport to the court.

The alleged offences were contrary to Section 1(1)(a) &8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act and Section 98,99 and 516 of the Criminal Code Act Cap,Laws of the Federation.

Justice Onyetenu adjourned the case till July 4.

The suspects had earlier been arraigned on May 16 before the court on eight-count charge bothering on fraud, stealing, conspiracy.

The arraignment was as a result of a Petition dated March 21, 2016 written by the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) to the Acting Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magun.

The group alleged that of the sum N170m first payment released to the Sky Bank, Ring Road Ibadan branch Account Number:1771403093 for the Digitpro Engineering Technology Ltd, Ibadan, being the part of mobilization fees for the construction of a Lecture Theatre (Amphittheatre), a sum of N41,093,694.36 on March 4, 2014 was diverted to the Fidelity Bank Plc Account Number:5600078243 with Cheque Number:00000005 of De Capstone Ltd.