N2.5 Billion Naira Fraud: Ogun Chairman Fulfills Bail Conditions and Returns to Office
After nine days of work, Ogun State Assembly Speaker Olakunle Oluomo returned to his office on Friday after perfecting his bail conditions.
The Assembly Speaker was released on bail by a Lagos High Court on Tuesday after he was arrested by officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport from Lagos
Mr. Oluomo, who is on trial for the alleged mismanagement of public funds of more than 2.4 billion naira, was granted bail of 300 million naira.
The judge, Daniel Osiagor, said the speaker must produce two sureties, one of which must not be less than a level 16 official in the federal civil service.
The judge also granted bail of 100 million naira each to the co-defendants of Mr. Oluomo, Samuel Oladayo and Taiwo Adeyemo, with two sureties, one of which must not be lower than level 14 of the civil service.
The judge further added that all defendants would be kept in EFCC custody for a week for all of them to complete their bail conditions, otherwise they would be transferred to a correctional facility in Abeokuta , capital of Ogun State.
Thursday morning, our reporter understood that Deputy Speaker Akeem Balogun had called an emergency meeting that had lawmakers converging in the Assembly only for the meeting to be called off a few hours after 1:00 p.m. when the meeting was supposed to start.
When our journalist went to the Assembly, the journalists were however excluded from the premises of the Assembly. They were asked to call the press officer before they could enter the Assembly contrary to the usual practice.
A deputy, who preferred not to be mentioned, told our reporter that the meeting had not taken place, angering some of them.
When the speaker arrived at the Assembly compound at Okemosan, Abeokuta on Friday, he was greeted by Assembly staff.
Speaking on behalf of the Assembly staff, the Chairman of the State Branch of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, Ayotunde Ojediran, said the workers were happy to receive the Speaker, as well as the Clerk of the Assembly, Adedeji Adeyemo, and the Director of Finance, Samuel Oladayo, back in their offices.
Mr. Ojediran also appreciated the staff members for their determination to keep the House running during the trio's absence.
"Let the court decide"In a statement by Mr. Oluomo minutes after his arrival, the House leader said he maintains his innocence until the court decides the case.
The president also attacked the suspended vice president, Dare Kadir, calling his petition to the EFCC "hyperbolic".
"According to the law, I am not the accountant of the Chamber, to point out that the Chamber under my direction has only managed one bank account since 2019, through which operating costs and allowances are paid directly into the bank accounts of the Honorable Members and House staff, including the petitioner.
"In addition, counts 10 and 11 pertain to the eighth Parliament before I became president."
Talking about why he refused to honor repeated invitations from the EFCC, Mr Oluomo said the anti-corruption agency's method of inviting him is "against Article 36 of the Constitution and we have challenged it in court, it is in the public domain as has been widely reported, but the EFCC has refused to wait for judgment in this case before taking any further action, although told us about our problems in court.
"I have always been disciplined and upright in my standing, my conduct and my dealings with people, I will continue to remain myself with truth and honor as my goal. I thank all those who have shown love and interest these past few days. Thank you and God bless you all."
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After nine days of work, Ogun State Assembly Speaker Olakunle Oluomo returned to his office on Friday after perfecting his bail conditions.
The Assembly Speaker was released on bail by a Lagos High Court on Tuesday after he was arrested by officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport from Lagos
Mr. Oluomo, who is on trial for the alleged mismanagement of public funds of more than 2.4 billion naira, was granted bail of 300 million naira.
The judge, Daniel Osiagor, said the speaker must produce two sureties, one of which must not be less than a level 16 official in the federal civil service.
The judge also granted bail of 100 million naira each to the co-defendants of Mr. Oluomo, Samuel Oladayo and Taiwo Adeyemo, with two sureties, one of which must not be lower than level 14 of the civil service.
The judge further added that all defendants would be kept in EFCC custody for a week for all of them to complete their bail conditions, otherwise they would be transferred to a correctional facility in Abeokuta , capital of Ogun State.
Thursday morning, our reporter understood that Deputy Speaker Akeem Balogun had called an emergency meeting that had lawmakers converging in the Assembly only for the meeting to be called off a few hours after 1:00 p.m. when the meeting was supposed to start.
When our journalist went to the Assembly, the journalists were however excluded from the premises of the Assembly. They were asked to call the press officer before they could enter the Assembly contrary to the usual practice.
A deputy, who preferred not to be mentioned, told our reporter that the meeting had not taken place, angering some of them.
When the speaker arrived at the Assembly compound at Okemosan, Abeokuta on Friday, he was greeted by Assembly staff.
Speaking on behalf of the Assembly staff, the Chairman of the State Branch of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, Ayotunde Ojediran, said the workers were happy to receive the Speaker, as well as the Clerk of the Assembly, Adedeji Adeyemo, and the Director of Finance, Samuel Oladayo, back in their offices.
Mr. Ojediran also appreciated the staff members for their determination to keep the House running during the trio's absence.
"Let the court decide"In a statement by Mr. Oluomo minutes after his arrival, the House leader said he maintains his innocence until the court decides the case.
The president also attacked the suspended vice president, Dare Kadir, calling his petition to the EFCC "hyperbolic".
"According to the law, I am not the accountant of the Chamber, to point out that the Chamber under my direction has only managed one bank account since 2019, through which operating costs and allowances are paid directly into the bank accounts of the Honorable Members and House staff, including the petitioner.
"In addition, counts 10 and 11 pertain to the eighth Parliament before I became president."
Talking about why he refused to honor repeated invitations from the EFCC, Mr Oluomo said the anti-corruption agency's method of inviting him is "against Article 36 of the Constitution and we have challenged it in court, it is in the public domain as has been widely reported, but the EFCC has refused to wait for judgment in this case before taking any further action, although told us about our problems in court.
"I have always been disciplined and upright in my standing, my conduct and my dealings with people, I will continue to remain myself with truth and honor as my goal. I thank all those who have shown love and interest these past few days. Thank you and God bless you all."
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