A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo has granted bail to the 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, (AP), Alhaji Yinusa Amobi, who were accused of complicity in the N300m fraud that rocked the institution.
The court, however, sent back a former Bursar of the college (now Bursar of College of Education, Ilesa), Mr. Akin Latilo, two members of the Governing Council, Messrs David Olayinka Olojede and Kujeunbola Oluwafemi to Ilesa prison where they were previously remanded.
The six accused persons were all standing trial in a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the alleged illegal diversion of N300 million meant for the construction of Amphitheatre (Lecture Theatre) and other projects in the institution.
They had been arraigned on May before the court on eight-count charge bothering on fraud, stealing, conspiracy.
Their 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.
All defendants in the suit applied for bail at the resumed hearing of the suit on Thursday but were denied, except for those who denied their involvement in the matter.
Justice Malqueen Onyetenu granted bail to Gbadamosi, Ogungbemi and Amobi in the sum of N20m and a surety who must be a Civil Servant on Grade level 16 each.
Onyetenu said that each of the surety must submit his/her International Passport to the court
Their arraignment was sequel to 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.
The group alleged that of the sum N170m first payment released to the Skye Bank, Ring Road Ibadan branch Account Number:1771403093 for the Digitpro Engineering Technology Ltd, Ibadan, being the part of mobilization fees for the construction of a Lecture Theatre (Amphittheatre), a sum of N41,093,694.36 on March 4, 2014 was diverted to the Fidelity Bank Plc Account Number:5600078243 with Cheque Number:00000005 of De Capstone Ltd.
Packaged by Bunmi Oladejo
