NAN-H-58
Arraignment
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Feb.13, 2018 (NAN) The arraignment of the former Oyo State Head of Service, Alhaja Kudirat Adeleke, and 11 others over alleged N5.6 billion pension fraud was stalled on Tuesday by the ill-health of one of the defendants, Adeduntan Johnson.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants are facing a 213-count charge which includes conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, fraud and forgery.
Adeleke and others were arraigned in an Oyo State High Court by the EFCC for allegedly defrauding the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board to the tune of N5.6 billion.
The other defendants are Muili Aderemi, Iyabo Giwa, Adesina Ayoade, Oguntayo Banji, Adebiyi Musenbiq, Muili Adedamola, Bosede Johnson, Kareem Rasheed, Olujimi Adebayo and Adewale Kehinde.
Mr Olutayo Oyelami, Counsel to Johnson, informed the court that his client was indisposed and could not appear before the court.
Oyelami urged the court to give his client the benefit of doubt.
He said that Johnson had always been in court, adding that the court record could testify to that and prayed the court for an adjournment.
But counsel to the EFCC, Mr Gbolahan Latona, objected, saying there was no evidence provided by Johnson’s counsel to prove that his client was indisposed.
Justice Laniran Akintola said that the court would give Oyelami’s client the benefit of doubt and adjourned the case till March 16 for arraignment of the defendants.
The counsel to the other defendants were all present in court.(NAN)
SYS/JI/OJO
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(Editing by Joseph Idika/Mufutau Ojo)