Court remands Osun council boss, 2 others in prison

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 were on Thursday remanded again in prison by a Federal High Court in Osogbo.

Kujenbola and Latilo who is now the Bursar of the Osun State College of Ilesa and Olojede were earlier in May 16, 2017 remanded in prison on fraud allegations leveled against them by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

The trio were 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 (APC), Alhaji Yinusa Amobi, who were accused of complicity in the N300m fraud that rocked the institution.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, all the suspects applied for bail but were denied, except for those who denied their involvement in the alleged fraud.

Presiding Justice Malqueen Onyetenu granted bail to Gbadamosi, Ogungbemi and Amobi, but, however, ordered that Kujenbola, Latilo and Olojede be remanded in Ilesa prison where they were previously being held.

The six suspects are all standing trial on a suit filed by the 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 and the court held 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 5.

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 Magu