Court grants Ogun speaker N300m bail in alleged N2.4b fraud trial

Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on Tuesday admitted the speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, to bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties at N300 million each.

Oluomo was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside the Director of Finance, Ogun State House of Assembly, Oladayo Samuel, and the Clerk of the House of Assembly, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo, on 11-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N2.4 billion.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large), sometime in 2019 in Abeokuta, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to USE the total sum of N2,475,000,000,000.00, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: stealing from the treasury of Ogun State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (a), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

Spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement, said the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them.

In view of their pleas, counsel to the first defendant, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, informed the court that he was in the process of filing a bail application for his client at the Registry.

He, however, pleaded to make an oral application for bail.

Ogunwumiju observed that the defendant had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution, and that “he did not default.”

He also told the court that the defendant, a public servant, “is contesting for the seat of the House of Assembly in the 2023 general glections.”

He assured the court of his client’s attendance throughout the course of the trial.

Ogunwumiju also prayed that the defendant is remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

Akinyemi Aremu and Oluwole Aladedoye, counsel to the second and third defendants, in their applications dated September 5, 2022 , aligned with the submissions of Ogunwumiju and pleaded with the court to grant their clients bail in “the most liberal terms.”

Aladedoye admitted that while bail was at the discretion of the court, the offences against the defendants were bailable and ” such bail, as the law permits, should be in the most liberal and affordable terms. ”

In a response, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo said: “I have been served the advance copy of the bail applications. And in view of the serious undertakings that the defendants will be present in court, I will hand over the decision to the court.

“However, I urge your lordship to make such conditions and terms that will ensure their attendance in the course of trial.”

Justice Osiagor, in a short ruling, admitted Oluomo to bail in the sum of N300m and two sureties in like sum.

The second and third defendants were each granted bail in the sum of N100m, with two sureties.

The sureties should be public servants on Grade Level 14 and should possess landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

They must also provide a three-year tax clearance.

The Judge also ordered the defendants to deposit their International Passports with the court.

Justice Osiagor further ruled that the defendants, pending the perfection of their bail, “are to remain in the EFCC custody for a week.”