Court Remands Ogunlewe, Others in Prison, Slams N50m Bail

Former Works Minister and Pro-Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe and two other members of the Governing Council were today remanded in prison pending the perfection of their bail.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought Ogunlewe, along with Prof. Olusola Oyewole and the Bursar, Mr Moses Olusola Ilesanmi before Justice O. O. Majekodunmi of Court 6, Ogun State High Court, Isabo, Abeokuta, this morning on an 18-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money under false pretence.

One of the charges says: “That you Senator Ogunlewe, Prof. Olusola Oyewole and Moses Ilesanmi between the month of September and October, 2013 at Abeokuta within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did deposit the sum of N400, 000, 000 million only, property of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in a fixed deposit account without due process.”

Another count says: “That you Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, Prof. Olusola Oyewole and Moses Olusola Ilesanmi sometime between the month of September and October, 2013, at Abeokuta within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did deposit the sum of N442, 849, 898 million only, property of Federal University of Abeokuta in a fixed deposit without due process.”

The accused persons pleaded not guilty before the judge, who stood down the matter for 30 minutes for the counsel to reconcile their differences over the service of the bail application.

In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel Benedict Ubi and Festus Ojo asked the court to remand them in prison custody pending the commencement of trial. The defence counsel to the first, second and third defendants Wale Adesokan (SAN), Benjamin Ogunmodede and Lapite Ademola urged the court to admit them to bail having filed the various applications before the Court.

Having listened to the submissions of both counsel on the bail applications, Justice Majekodunmi granted the first and second defendants (Ogunlewe and Oyewole) bail in the sum of N50million with two sureties in like sum. Sureties must be house owners within the jurisdiction and one of them must be a civil servant on grade level 15. The defendants must submit their International Passports to the court Registrar. The court ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

Justice Majekodunmi adjourned ruling on the bail application of the third defendant till Monday 28th November and 16th, 19th and 20th of December for the commencement of trial.

Ogunlewe was represented by his son, M. O. Ogunlewe.

EFCC had filed the case following a petition against the management and some members of the Governing Council.

The petition was submitted to the EFCC by the Concerned Stakeholders of FUNAAB. It says the Pro Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor and the Bursar engaged in “unbridled corruption and betrayal of public trust”.‎

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