Bola Bamigbola, Osogbo
AN Osun State Excessive Court docket sitting in Osogbo on Thursday discharged and acquitted former appearing Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo College, Ile Ife, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, and ex-acting Bursar, Josephine Akeredolu, of allegations of conspiracy and fraud.
The 2 college officers had been dragged earlier than the court docket by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee following a petition alleging their involvement in fraud, conversion of public funds, conspiracy and abuse of workplace.
EFCC had alleged that Elujoba and Akeredolu, whereas in workplace, had conspired to steal by paying the appearing vice chancellor N5,477,595 belonging to OAU as furnishings allowance.
They had been additionally accused of unlawful diversion of N1.four billion OAU cash, which was paid to employees within the college as earned allowances and productiveness bonus.
Elujoba and Akeredolu had been first arraigned earlier than an Osun State Excessive Court docket, sitting in Ede in July, 2017.
Delivering judgement on the matter, Justice Wasiu Akanbi, stated the prosecution staff led by M.S. Usman referred to as three witnesses and tendered displays that included letter of appointment of the appearing vice chancellor.
He stated the defendants had pleaded not responsible to the seven counts pressed towards them, and urged the court docket to dismiss allegations towards them, because the prosecution couldn’t set up they’d a case to reply.
Justice Akanbi held that submissions of prosecution witnesses had been contradictory and evidences laid earlier than the court docket by them had been unreliable since each OAU Governing Board and Federal Ministry of Training by no means reported that any cash was lacking.
He stated within the appointment letter given to the appearing vice chancellor, although furnishings allowance was not acknowledged, it was written that he can be entitled to fringe advantages, regardless that he was to serve for six months.
In accordance with him, the declare by the prosecution witnesses that the appearing vice chancellor was entitled to N722, 797.26 since he didn’t serve for 4 years couldn’t be proved because the witnesses didn’t agree of their separate submissions that furnishings allowance can be paid in proportion to the time spent in workplace.
Declaring that evidences laid earlier than court docket by the prosecution had been contradictory and unreliable, Justice Akanbi discharged and acquitted each Elujoba and Akeredolu of all of the allegations towards them.
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