Oduduwa varsity staff arraigned for alleged ₦722,000 fraud

An employee of the Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Mercy Olokunboro, 45, was docked on Wednesday before an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court, over alleged N722,000 fraud, among other offences.

The defendant, whose address was not provided, however, pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge of conspiracy, intent to defraud, stealing, forgery and fraud.

The Prosecutor, DSP Joseph Adebayo, told the court that the defendant, the Secretary to the university’s Registrar, committed the offences between May 22, 2024 and October 2024 at Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu.

Adebayo said that the defendant with intent to defraud, unlawfully obtained N722, 000 from students of the university under the pretext of remitting same into the school’s account, but failed to do so.

According to him, the defendant conspired with others now at large to commit felony to wit stealing, forgery and altering of documents.

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The prosecutor said that the defendant unlawfully converted the sum of N722,000, property of Oduduwa University to her own use.

Adebayo stated further that the defendant with intent to defraud, unlawfully forged letter head of Office of the Registrar of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, school’s stamp and receipt, statement of results and presented these to be acted upon as genuine.

According to him, the defendant with intent to defraud, unlawfully altered and falsified the statement of account of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, and presented it to be acted upon as genuine.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections: 390 (9), 419, 422, 467, 468 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.

The Defence Counsel, Mr Wole Omotosho, applied for the bail of the defendant in most liberal terms, promising that his client would not jump bail, but would provide reliable sureties.

The Magistrate, Mrs Abosede Sarumi granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like amount.

Sarumi directed that the sureties must swear to affidavit of means, resides within the court’s jurisdiction, and one of them must be a landed property owner.

The magistrate stated further that the sureties must provide evidence of payment of tax to the state government for the past three consecutive years as well as three recent passport photographs each.

The case was adjourned until April 3 for mention.