Court grants bail to OAU ex-VC, Bursar

Presiding judge of the Osun State High Court, sitting in Ede, Justice David Oladimeji, on Friday, granted bail to the former acting Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Anthony Elujoba, along with the bursar of the institution, Mrs Josephine Akeredolu, on self-recognition.

The duo, who were taken to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), were granted bail  in the sum of N50 million naira, with two sureties in the like sum.

Part of the conditions for the bail  restrained  Elujoba from traveling out of Nigeria, just as the court ordered him to deposit his passport with the court registrar.

Justice Oladimeji ordered that the two sureties  that the bursar were  to present must be members of the academic or non-academic staff of the university community with the highest grade of salaries.

EFCC had accused Elujoba and Mrs Akeredolu of misappropriation of the sum of N1.4billion and abuse of office. Elujoba was said to have paid the workers of institution their arrears with the fund, in order to restore peace to the once troubled institution.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Oladimeji condemned the manner in which the staff and students of the institution conducted themselves at the last sitting, when the defendants were ordered to be remanded in Ilesa  Prison by the  court.

The court adjourned the matter till October 27, even as the elated workers and students of the institution, who had thronged the court premises in solidarity with Elujoba went into jubilation, shortly after the court granted the duo bail.