A former Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Kudirat Iyabo Adeleke and 11 others were on Thursday November 7, 2013 remanded in prison custody following their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Bolaji Yusuf of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and criminal breach of trust.
The other accused persons who were arraigned alongside Adeleke are Muili Hakeem Aderemi, former executive secretary, Oyo State Pension Board; Adedutan Johnson; Oguntayo Banji, former internal auditor, Oyo State Pension Board; and Kareem Rasheed.
Others are: Muili Adedamola; Adesina Jimoh Ayoade, former cashier, Oyo State Pension Board; Adebiyi Olasumbo Musendia, former Admin Officer, Oyo State Pension Board; Johnson Bosede; Iyabo Giwa, former cashier, Oyo State Pension Board, Adewale Kehinde and Olujinmi Adebayo.
The accused persons are alleged to have stolen the sum of N5.6billion (Five billion, six hundred million naira) meant for the payment of pensions and gratuities to various categories of retired teachers in Oyo state.
Count one of the charges reads: “Muili Hakeem, Iyabo Giwa, Adesina Jimson Ayoade, Oguntayo Banji N., Adebiyi Musendiq Olasunbo, Adeleke Kudirat Iyabo, Muili Adedamola, Adeduntan Johnson, Johnson Bosede, Kareem Rasheed, Olujimi Adebayo and Adewale Kehinde on or about the 29th day of September, 2010 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain money by false pretence from Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board account number 145430000040401 at Finbank plc( Now FCMB plc Account number 300564854)”.
Count two reads: “ Muili Hakeem, Iyabo Giwa, Adesina Jimson Ayoade, Oguntayo Banji N., Adebiyi Musendiq Olasunbo, Adeleke Kudirat Iyabo, Muili Adedamola, Adeduntan Johnson, Johnson Boseds, Kareem Rasheed, Olujimi Adebayo and Adewale Kehinde on or about the 29th day of September, 2010 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N8,975,000.00( Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Naira) from Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board account number 145430000040401 at Finbank plc( Now FCMB Plc Account number 300564854) on false representation made to Finbank Plc that the money was the gratuity of a pensioner named Kareem R.W.”
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges. EFCC counsel, Gbolahan Latona, informed the court that he was ready for trial and prayed the court to remand all the accused persons in prison custody. He said that he was only served copies of application for bail for seven of the accused persons in court and would need time to respond to the applications. Besides, he stressed that the EFCC custody was not available for the accused persons because of inadequate space and the distance between the court located in Ibadan, Oyo state and the EFCC’s zonal office in Lagos.
However, counsel to the 6th defendant, Abiodun Dabiri, told the court that the offences for which the former Head of Service was being held were bailable and since she was granted administrative bail by the EFCC and didn’t jump bail, “she would make herself available for trial”. He prayed the court for liberal bail terms for his client. Counsel to the 5th, 11th & 12th defendants, Otunba Olayinka Bolanle, told the court that he filed an application for bail for the 5th defendant on November 4, 2013 but made oral application for bail for the 11th and 12th defendants. He prayed the court to admit his clients to bail on liberal terms. Other defence counsel aligned their positions with Bolanle and urged the court to offer bail to their clients on liberal terms.
Justice Yusuf, in her ruling urged the defence counsel to present written applications for bail before the court and adjourned hearing on bail applications till November 14, 2013. She ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Agodi prison custod
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