Elizade varsity ex-VC, Oloyede, appeals Ondo magistrate court’s verdict

The former Vice Chancellor of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Prof. Adekunle Oloyede, has filed an appeal before the state High Court, praying the court to set aside the order by Chief Magistrate Aderemi Adegoroye, who adjudged him guilty of the six-count charge of conspiracy to steal and obtaining by false pretence the sum of $720,000.

But dissatisfied with the judgment, Oloyede, through his counsel, Oke Olusola, has filed a seven-ground of appeal.

Oloyede, in his appeal, said the magistrate erred in law to have assumed jurisdiction to try the case notwithstanding that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it.

He said that Magistrate Adegoroye also erred when she relied on substantive charge in counts 3, 4, 5 and 6 to convict and sentence him even though he was not charged with the offence of stealing.

Oloyede said that apart from lack of jurisdiction, there was a miscarriage of justice occasioned by the finding of the court that the purpose of the money was for the payment of building materials, which creates a big doubt in the case of the prosecution.

He insisted that the magistrate court decision was unreasonable, unwarranted and cannot be supported having regard to the weight of evidence.