N5.6b pension fraud: Court denies ex-Oyo HoS, 11 others bail

A former Head of Service (HOS) in Oyo State, Alhaja Kudirat Adeleke, and 11 others, who are on trial for alleged N5.6 billion pension fraud, will remain in prison while the trial lasts.

That was the decision of the State High Court on the suspects’ bail application.

Justice Bolaji Yusuf yesterday said the accused failed to convince the court to grant them bail.

The other suspects are: Muili Aderemi, Iyabo Giwa, Adesina Ayoade, Oguntayo Banji, Adebiyi Olasunmbo, Muili Adedamola, Adeduntan Johnson, Johnson Bosede, Kareem Rasheed, Olujimi Adebayo and Adewale Kehinde.

The stolen money was the gratuity of retired primary school teachers.

Some of the accused based their bail application on health grounds, while others argued that their alleged offences were bailable.

They argued that they did not jump bail earlier, when it was granted by the Police, Magistrate’s Court and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

After reviewing documents presented to the court, the judge held that the accused, who wanted bail on health grounds, did not provide convincing evidence that they are ill.

She said the EFCC confirmed in its affidavit that Aderemi was hypertensive and was given proper medical attention while in its custody.

Justice Yusuf said the accused’s claim that he had kidney disease was unsubstantiated.

As for the former HoS, Justice Yusuf said the letter attached to the application to inform the court of a serious health issue actually did otherwise.

The judge said the letter stated that the applicant was in Britain for a cosmetic operation and not “a grave health challenge” as claimed by her lawyer, Richard Ogunwole.

She said apart from the fact that the EFCC proved that it provided satisfactory medical care to the accused when they were in its custody, the state government has promised to attend to their medical needs if the health facilities in the prison proved inadequate.

On the accused’s position that they did not jump bail when granted such by the Police, Magistrate’s Court and EFCC, the court ruled that such premise was not enough to rule in their favour.

Justice Yusuf said: “In granting bail, the court must consider the nature of the offence, the severity of punishment upon conviction and the evidence before it.

“The case before this court is different from the one before the Magistrate’s Court. The case was at the preliminary stage when it was with the police. The case before the Magistrate’s Court was without the pool of evidence supplied here.”

She said the severity of the offence was enough to tempt the accused to want to jump bail.

Justice Yusuf said though not punishable by death, conspiracy to obtain money through false pretence and forgery are classified as felony and attract minimum of seven years and maximum of 20 years jail terms without the option of fine.

She said the court would accelerate the trial and sought the cooperation of all parties.

The case was adjourned to December 12 and 13.

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