Ondo Speaker, Two Others Arraigned For Fraud By EFCC

The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Bamidele Oloyelogun, and two others have been arraigned for alleged fraudulent practices.

The Oloyelogun and another lawmaker and staff member of the Assembly were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The duo arraigned alongside Oloyelogun are Felemu Bankole and Segun Bankole who are the lawmaker representing Akoko South-West Constituency 2 and a staff member of the Assembly respectively.

Their arraignment complied with the directive given by Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye of the Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure in February.

Justice Adebusoye had ordered the EFCC to prosecute the Speaker and other suspects over the alleged fraud. 

The Court dismissed the defendants’ preliminary objection filed to prevent them from being tried, claiming that the EFCC lacked the authority to prosecute them because the assets they were facing trial for belonged to the state.

But the court held that the anti-graft commission did have the authority to investigate and prosecute the defendants for the alleged fraud.

The defendants were arraigned in Court on two counts of attempted fraud.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

During the trial on Tuesday, the EFCC’s counsel, Kingsley Kudus, asked the court to remand the defendants to prison custody, claiming that the defendants were still with the EFCC.

Femi Emodamori, counsel for the defendants, asked the court to dismiss the EFCC’s request for remand but noted that the defendants’ administrative bail application was still pending.

He also claimed that the second defendant (the Speaker) was ill and required immediate medical attention.

Emodamori also asked the court to caution the nominal complainant (former Deputy Speaker Iroju Ogundeji) in the case for allegedly sending messages to the Speaker in an attempt to annoy him, threatening legal action if Ogundeji did not stop.

He described Ogundeji’s behaviour towards his client as illegal.

In his ruling, Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye asked the defendants to remain on administrative bail until the next hearing.

He adjourned the case until May 28, 2023, for the commencement of trial.