Former Oyo Head of Service, 11 Others Remanded in Prison for N5.6B Pension Scam

Posted by African Examiner Crime Watch, Featured, Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

Ruth Bamidele, Lagos

Former Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Kudirat Adeleke and eleven other accused persons have been remanded in Agodi prison on Tuesday. The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for their involvement in a N5.6 billion pension scam.

During the bail application hearing, the defendant lost their bid to regain freedom as an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan refused their bail application.

The presiding Judge, Justice Bolaji Yusuf in her ruling turned down the plea of all the counsel to the 12 defendants seeking bail for their clients on the ground that the offences for which they were arraigned were bailable.

Justice Bolaji however ordered that their trial be accelerated, stating that “this is a serious offence which attract 7 to 20 years imprisonment without option of fine,”

She also faulted the claims of Mrs Adeleke who prayed the court to grant her bail to be able to attend to her “failing health”.

According to the judge, “the applicant did not file anything to show that they denied her treatment, no medical report to show for her health condition and she had been represented by a senior counsel. The trial has started and will be accelerated.”

On the claims made by some defence counsel that all the defendants had earlier been granted bail by a Magistrate Court, Justice Bolaji said that, “Mrs. Adeleke and other accused persons had been granted bail by a Magistrate Court does not mean that they will be granted bail here.”

The situation before the court is different and there is proof of evidence before the court”

They were arraigned on November 7, 2013 on charges bothering on conspiracy, stealing and criminal breach of trust.

Prosecuting counsel, Gbolahan Latona, had opposed bail for the defendants in view of the severity and enormity of charges preferred against them. He also prayed the court to consider the huge public interests generated by the case and the pains and pangs of pensioners who would rather want the trial accelerated and concluded on time.

Justice Yusuf adjourned the case to December 11 and 12, 2013 and ordered that the defendants be returned to Agodi prison, Ibadan.