An uncertain fate hangs around immediate past Ondo Speaker, Hon Bamidele Oloyelogun. He might make history as the first former Speaker to be jailed for corruption if the court finds him guilty of the two-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Hon Oloyelogun is not alone. Others charged along with him were a former lawmaker, Felemu-Gudu Bankole and a civil servant, Segun Oyadeyi.
The court presided over by Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye has adjourned ruling to a date to be communicated to parties in the suit. The date for judgment would be before December this year.
Trouble started when late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu attempted to impeach his then Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi. The impeachment did not succeed because nine lawmakers in the then House of Assembly led by former Deputy Speaker, Ogundeji Iroju, did not sign the impeachment notice.
Iroju was suspended and subsequently impeached as Deputy Speaker. He never returned until the tenure of the Assembly ended. Iroju was not to go down without a fight. He petitioned the EFCC alleging diversion and subsequent sharing of the sum of N2.4m in 2019. The former Deputy Speaker urged the EFCC to investigate how the fund was spent. He said the N2.4m was for a seminar held in Lagos but that those scheduled to attend the seminar never left Akure.
Acting on the petition, the EFCC began investigation and invited Oleyelogun, former Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Education, Felemu Gudu Bankole, Deputy Clerk, Babatunde Amos Olowogorioye, Clerk of the Assembly, Bode Adeyelu and two civil servants, Olusegun Kayode Oyadeji and OJ. Afolabi.
Attempts by the EFCC to commence prosecution after investigation was stalled severally. In 2021, the Ondo Assembly passed a law titled “The Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crime and anti-Corruption Commission and other matters connected thereto” for the trial of cases related to corruption in the state. It was signed into law in January, 2022. It was believed that the Ondo anti-corruption law was signed into law to stop prosecution of those allegedly involved in the N2.4m fraud.
In 2021, the Ondo Assembly passed a law titled “The Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crime and anti-Corruption Commission and other matters connected thereto” for the trial of cases related to corruption in the state. It was signed into law in January, 2022.
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In a preliminary objection earlier filed by Counsel to the defendants, Femi Emodamori, they urged the court to strike out the charges against them because the EFCC has no right to prosecute them for alleged corruption in view of the State Public Complaint Financial Crimes and Anti Corruption Commission Law.
They claimed the charge against them contains two counts, alleging them of committing financial crimes involving the finances and assets of the state and that as the state has its own version of the law, the EFCC should hands over the prosecution of the case.
But Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Fredrick Dibang, insisted that the court has jurisdiction because the State law enacted by state Assembly was contrary to the acts of the National Assembly that establish EFCC.
Dibang said the Assembly passed the law with the intention of frustrating the trial of the lawmakers and the civil servant for the alleged abuse of office and corruption.
The court, in its ruling, granted the EFCC permission to prosecute the defendants. Justice Adegboyega asked the EFCC to serve the lawmakers with fresh charges against them.
Speaking on his trial ahead of the 2023 general election, Hon Oloyelogun
said some political heavyweights were after him because of his quest to contest for the National Assembly to represent Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency.
Oloyelogun confirmed that the N2.4m was earmarked to be spent for the seminar that never held due to outbreak of Covid-19 and Endsars crisis. He said the money was returned to the coffers of the Ondo Assembly.
The former Speaker said Iroju waged a war against him because of wounds of his impeachment and suspension by the assembly.
Oleyelogun said, “I am not the House accounting officer. I don’t sign the Assembly’s cheque, I am not in charge of disbursement of fund, I am not the Auditor or external Auditor, this allegation is a mere political persecution which will fail.
“I did everything to make peace with Iroju, he even accused me of begging him at his residence, all I want is peace at the Assembly.
“The said fund has been returned to the Assembly’s account since the said Seminar was not attended by those who supposed to participate as a result of last year’s Covid-19 lockdown and later political issues at the assembly.
“Iroju that supposed to lead members to the seminar was impeached and suspended; so there is no way they could go for the seminar. So there is no fraud at the Assembly, the money has been returned to the House account in line with due process. It’s against the due process and law to return such money to the state government’s coffer as being insinuated,” Oleyelogun said.
Majority Leader of the Ondo Assembly, Wale Ogunmolasuyi, said, “The money in question was released in June last year but the Covid-19 lockdown stopped them from any seminar. The procedure to get any fund has always been difficult and that was why they resolved that the money should be used for another programme.
“There was even pressure from the former deputy speaker asking the speaker to share the money but he refused and after he was impeached, he thought of getting back on the speaker.
“Unfortunately the money in question had been refunded into the government coffers, the receipt is very available for you to see.”
On his part, Hon Iroju said he filed the petition to clear his name
“I don’t have any issue with the matter. The EFCC has taken over and it is no longer my matter. What I did was to report to the EFCC to clear my name. It was my name that was used to collect the money. It was when they refused to pay back to government coffers as I requested. When they said they cannot do that I decided to write the EFCC to help clear my name.”