THE Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday commenced trial in the alleged examination malpractices slammed against the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the recent Osun State Governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
At the resumed trial yesterday, the prosecution counsel, Simon Lough led two witnesses in evidence to prove the allegations of examination malpractices against Adeleke and four of his co-defendants.
In his testimony, the first prosecution witness, Buhari Moshood told the court that he didn’t see Sen. Adeleke in the examination hall, on June 26, 2017, when he supervised English Language in Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Ojo-Aro Osun State) for the National Examination Council (NECO) in Osun state.
He said, he saw about five matured men sitting for the examination, including Sikiru Adeleke, the second defendant in the matter.
The witness said, even though the photo album of the candidates sitting for the examination was not produced, the candidates were identified by their identity card and that the examination was smooth, without any form of malpractice.
The scripts of the English language examination belonging to Ademola Adeleke and Adeleke Sikiru were identified by the witness and admitted as evidence by the court.
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The second prosecution witness, Isamotu Fumilayo Nike, who supervised the second part of literature in English (grammar and poetry) also said photo album of candidates for the examination was not produced said the examination went smoothly.
The prosecution counsel, Lough said has more seven witnesses to call in the matter as the court adjourned till April 4, 2019, for the continuation of trial.
Senator Adeleke, his brother, Sikiru Adeleke and three others were arraigned on a four count charge of examination malpractices.
The others are; Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal, Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Ojo-Aro Osun State), Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (school Registrar) and Dare Samuel Olutope (a teacher).
Upon their arraignment, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and the trial Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo granted them bail.
Adeleke was granted bail on self-recognizance while the 2nd and 3rd defendants were admitted to bail in the sum of N2 million each.
Senator Adeleke, as part of his bail conditions, shall sign an undertaken to always attend the trial and shall not travel out of the country without the permission of the court.
The second and third defendants on their part are to provide a surety with each in the sum of N2m. The sureties, in addition, shall be owners of landed property in Abuja, which shall be verified by the registrar of the court.
They are also to submit their international passports to the court and can only travel out of the country upon obtaining permission from the court.
However, Justice Ekwo ordered the remand in prison custody of the 4th and 5th defendants, Gbadamosi Ojo (school Registrar) and Dare Olutope (a teacher) since they did not apply for bail.
In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/156/2018, the defendants are accused of fraudulently, through personation, registering as students of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Ojo-Aro Osun State to enable them to sit for the National Examination Council (NECO) examination of June/July 2017.
In the first count preferred against the defendants, the prosecution alleged that the five defendants “conspired to commit a felony, to wit: examination malpractices, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10 of the Examination Malpractices Act Cap E15 LFN 2004.”
In count 2, the prosecution alleged that the three members of staff of the school acted in concert by aiding and abetting “the commission of examination malpractice by personation” when they alleged “registered Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke” while knowing or having “reasons to believe that they are not students of the school.”
The alleged offence was said to be contrary to Section 9(1) of the Examination Malpractices Act Cap E15 LFN 2004.
In count three, the two Adelekes were accused of acting in concert, and “personated as students of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School when you fraudulently registered as students of the school in the June/July 2017 NECO.”
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 3(2) of the Examination Malpractices Act Cap E15 LFN 2004.
The fourth count accused the three members of staff of the school of “acting in concert” and while “saddled with the responsibilities of registering students of your school in the June/July 2017 NECO examination, breached that duty by registering Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke as students of your school in the June/July 2017 NECO examination when you know or had reasons to believe that they are not students of the school.”
The fourth count was said to be contrary to Section 10(a) and punishable under Section 3(2) of the Examination Malpractices Act Cap E15 LFN 2004.
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