19th May, 2023
Michael Adesina
Hon. Iroju Ogundeji, on Thursday, told Ondo State High Court how he discovered that the sum of N2.4million was collected and diverted by the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Oleyelogun David Bamidele, and two others.
The two others are Hon. Felemu Gudubamikole, chairman of House Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Oyadeji Oludeji, Secretary to the House Committee on Tertiary Institutions.
Ogundeji, while speaking before Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye, said he discovered that the sum of N2.4million was collected on his behalf and members of the House Committee on Tertiary Institution to attend a workshop in Lagos which he was not aware of.
Ogundeji, who was the first witness of the EFCC, added that when he discovered it, he met with the Speaker and asked him to refund the money to government.
‘I asked him to go and refund the money back to government treasury as I would not want my office name to be used to defraud government. After several months, I did not see any evidence of the money paid back. I wrote personally to him telling him to pay back the money to government,” he told the court.
The prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Audu tendered documents for the release of the fund which were admitted as exhibit.
The defence counsel, Femi Emmanuel Emodamori also crossed examined PW1.
Justice Adebusoye adjourned the case till July 25 and 26, for continuation of trial.
The trio were arraigned by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC on a two count charge bordering on conspiracy and using their office to confer corrupt or unfair advantage upon themselves.
Oleyelogun, Gudubankole and Kayode are alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to engage in corrupt practices by receiving and retaining the sum of N2,440,000.00 which was meant to be used to attend a seminar which they never attended.
One of the counts read: “that you Hon. Felemu Gudubankole whilst being the Chairman, house committee on tertiary institution, Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon.Oleyelogun David Bamidele whilst being a member of Ondo State House of Assembly and Oyadeji Oludeji being the Secretary to the House Committee on Tertiary Institutions, Ondo State House of Assembly on or about the 18th June 2020 in Akure, Ondo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court did use your office to confer corrupt or unfair advantage to yourselves to wit: by receiving and retaining the sum of N2,440,000 (Two million, Four Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira) from the Ondo State Government meant to be used to attend a two-day seminar organised by National Productivity Centre on Improving Productivity in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria which you did not attend”.