There was jubilation at the premises of the Osun State High Court, on Friday, after the presiding judge, Justice David Oladimeji, granted bail to the former acting Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Anthony Elujoba on self recognition.
Similarly, the bursar of the university, who was charged alongside Elujoba, Mrs Josephine Akeredolu, in a matter instituted against them 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 travelling out of Nigeria, just as the court ordered him to deposit his (Elujoba) 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 highest grade of salaries.
EFCC had accused Elujoba and Mrs Akeredolu of misappropriation a sum of N1.4billion and abuse of office. Elujoba was said to have paid workers of the 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 state High Court sitting in Ede.
The court adjourned the matter till October 27.
However, shortly after the court granted the duo bail, elated workers and students of the institution who had thronged the court premises in solidarity with Elujoba went into jubilation.
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