EFCC drags Ondo Speaker, one other lawmaker to court for alleged fraud

Ondo Speaker Bamidele Oloyeloogun and the lawmaker representing Akoko South-West Constituency II, Felemu Bankole, were on Tuesday, arraigned before an Ondo State High Court over alleged N2.4m fraud.

The alleged fraud was committed in 2019 when N2.4million was released to the affected persons to attend a two-day seminar organised by National Productivity Centre, Lagos but the seminar never held and the money was allegedly diverted.

They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on two-count charges of fraud.

Tuesday’s arraignment marked the beginning of the trial of Speaker Oloyelogun over the alleged fraud.

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They however pleaded not guilty of the allegations level against them.

Counsel to the EFCC, Kingsley Kudus, urged the court to remand the defendants to the Olokuta Correctional Centre.

He said the defendants were still in the hands of the court while trial continued despite their pleading not guilty.

Counsel to the defendants, Femi Emodamori, countered the remand prayer by EFCC’s Counsel for remand saying the administrative bail application on the defendants was still active.

He said that the Ondo Speaker had health challenges that needed urgent medical attention.

Emodamore also requested the court to caution the nominal complainant, Iroju Ogundeji, for allegedly sending messages to the speaker in an attempt to annoy him.