The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned Bamidele Oleyeloogun, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, before the High Court in Akure. 

Mr Oleyeloogun was dragged before the court, alongside two others, over an alleged N2.4 million fraud committed in 2019.

The Ondo Speaker was docked with Mr Felemu Bankole, the State lawmaker representing Akoko South-West Constituency I, and Segun Oyadeyi, a civil servant in the state.

Mr Oleyeloogun’s appearance in court marked the commencement of his trial over the alleged fraud case.

The fraud was allegedly committed when the lawmakers were supposed to have attended a two-day seminar organised by the National Productivity Centre, Lagos but which did not take place. 

Peoples Gazette learnt that the state lawmakers had requested for funds to be released for four members of the House Committee on Tertiary Education to attend the said seminar scheduled for Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 December 2019.

The former Deputy Speaker, the former Clerk, the Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education and two members of the committee were said to have been pencilled down to attend the seminar. 

However, it was discovered that there was no such seminar organised, while the money released by the Ministry of Finance amounting to N2.4 million, was alleged to have gone into private pockets.

Commencing the trial on Tuesday, the Counsel to the EFCC, Kingsley Kudus asked the court to remand the defendants at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, in Olokuta, since they are ready to answer the case before them. 

But Counsel to the defendants, Femi Emodamore told the court that he was fully prepared for the commencement and continuation of the trial.

Mr Emodamore also asked the court to strike out the EFCC’s prayer for the remand of the defendants. 

He explained that Mr Oleyeloogun, who doubles as the second defendant in the case, was having a health challenge that needed urgent medical attention.

Ruling on the case, Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye asked the defendants to continue on their administrative bail till the next hearing.

He later adjourned the case till May 18 for a proper hearing of the trial.

Recall that Iroju Ogundeji, the former Deputy Speaker petitioned the EFCC and accused Mr Oleyeloogun with other principal officers of the House of Assembly of collecting and sharing the N2.4 million.

In the petition, Mr Ogundeji claimed that the fund was particularly meant for the seminar in Lagos which they never attended in 2019.

He, however, asked the anti-graft agency to investigate the defendants for the phoney seminar.