By James Ogunnaike
ABEOKUTA – A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, has adjourned the case against a former Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, and two others till 29th February and 1st of March, 2024.
Oluomo alongside two other principal career officers of the Assembly, Dayo Samuel and Adeyemo Adedeji, were dragged before a Federal High court sitting in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over alleged misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N2.5 billion.
Oluomo allegedly committed financial fraud while he was the speaker of the Assembly in 2022.
Aside from the N2.5 billion case, 18 out of 26 lawmakers signed for his impeachment over allegations bordering on highhandedness, gross misconduct, arrogance, poor leadership style, lack of focus and transparency as well as pitching members against themselves.
On Monday, Shortly after the trio entered the dock, the court discovered that the Counsel to the anti-graft agency could not make it to court.
The Judge, O. O. Okeke, however, adjourned the case to 29th February and 1st of March.
Meanwhile, there was a mild drama in the Court when Justice Okeke stepped out of her chamber and the speaker’s case was mentioned, two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC), approached one of the journalists covering the proceeding, insisting that he leaves the courtroom on the order of the court registrar.
When the reporter met the acting registrar in his office on why he was prevented from witnessing the proceeding, he denied ever giving such orders.
The registrar also summoned the officer to his office for questioning, But the NSCDC officer, whose name tag has been removed, denied ordering the journalist out of court saying, “I only asked him to meet the registrar before covering the proceeding.”
Source: Vanguard
