EFCC arraigns Ogun Assembly Speaker Oluomo, two others over alleged N4.4bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo before a Federal High Court, in Lagos, over alleged N4.4billion fraud.

Oluomo was arraigned along with the Assembly’s Director of Finance, Oladayo Samuel and the Clerk, Adeyemo Taiwo on an 11-count charge preferred against them.

They all pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to Oluomo, who is the 1st defendant, Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) told the court that his client was already enjoying administrative bail granted by the EFCC, adding, however, that bail application has been filed on his behalf but there was delay due to correction in the title of the application.

He prayed the court to allow the defendants remain in the custody of the EFCC pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

Also, counsel to the 2nd and 3rd defendants, Akinyemi Aremu and Oluwole Aladedoyin urged the court to grant them bail in liberal and affordable terms.

EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo did not oppose the bail application, but left it at the discretion of the court.

He, however, urged the court to direct that failure to meet up with their respective bail conditions within a week, the defendants should be transferred to the Nigerian Correctional Centre (NCC), Abeokuta.

Ruling on their bail applications, Justice Daniel Osiagor granted the Speaker, bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties, while the 2nd and 3rd Defendants, Oladayo Samuel and Adeyemo Taiwo were granted bail in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, and the title documents are to be deposited with the court registrar.

The defendants are to deposit their travel documents to the court registry.

Also, one of the sureties must be a grade level 14 officer in either federal or state civil service.

Justice Osiagor also ordered the defendants to be remanded in the custody of the EFCC one week following which they would be transferred to the Correctional Centre, Abeokuta, if they failed to fulfil their bail conditions.