Revealed! Ogun Speaker, 2 others EFCC docked for N2.4bn ‘fraud’

The  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, before Justice D.E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over allegation of N2.4 billion fraud.

EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, in a press statement, Tuesday in Abuja, said: “Oluomo was arraigned 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-charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N2.4 billion.

One of the counts read: “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, 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.”

The spokesperson said the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them and in view of their pleas Counsel to the first defendant, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), informed the court that he was in  the process of filing a bail application for his client at the  Registry.  He said Ogunwumiju, who pleaded to make an oral  application for bail, observed that the defendant had been granted an administrative bail by the prosecution and he did not default.

Uwujaren said the defence council also told the court that the defendant, a public servant, was contesting for the seat of the House of Assembly in the 2023 general elections.

This is as he assured the court of his client’s attendance throughout the course of the trial, just as he prayed that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

Similarly, Counsel to the second and third defendants, Akinyemi Aremu, and Oluwole Aladedoye, in their bail 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 charges against the defendants were bailable, noting that: “such bail, as the law permits, should be in the most liberal and affordable terms.”

Responding, 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.”

The spokesperson said, Justice Osiagor, in a short ruling, admitted Oluomo to bail in the sum of N300 million and two sureties in like sum.

The  second and third defendants were each granted bail in the sum of N100 million 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,” Osiagor ordered.

He said the Judge also ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court, just as he further ruled that the defendants, pending the perfection of their bail were to remain in the EFCC custody for a week.