Corruption lands Prof. Ogbunbodede, Ex Director in jail for 40years

By
Justice prevailed as Prof. Benjamin Ogbunbodede, a former Director of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan  was sentenced to 40years imprisonment for corruptly enriching himself to the tune of N177 million. Zacheus Tejumola, a former Chief Accountant of the institute was also sentenced to 40 years imprisonment while Clement Adenose, another staff, bagged four years in jail.
Delivering the judgment on Tuesday that lasted over two hours, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan convicted the trio based on the overwhelming evidence against them. The judge, however, said that he had no reason to convict them on count 13 due to want of evidence.
“There is no ambiguity in the facts tendered by the prosecution that the three convicts conspired, converted and stole the hazard allowance of N177 million belonging to the staff of IAR&T.
“Ogunbodede and Tejumola are therefore, sentenced to 40 years imprisonment each for their roles for counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 16.
“Adenose is sentenced to four years in prison. The sentences will, however, run concurrently,” Ayo-Emmanuel stated.
Earlier, Mr Tunde Olupona, the counsel to Ogunbodede, had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.
He argued that his client lacked administrative experience in running such a sensitive position.
Similarly, Mr I.A Salawu and Mrs Yetunde Adegboye, counsel to Tejumola and Adenose, pleaded with the court to show mercy to their clients, citing various portions of the constitution.
However, Mr Nkwuruka Amana, the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, urged the court to sentence the convicts in accordance with the stipulation of the law.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Ogunbodede, Tejumola and Adenose along with 10 others had since 2014 been standing trial over a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful conversion and stealing of N177 million hazard allowance belonging to the staff of the institute.
Ten of the defendants had earlier pleaded guilty and opted for plea bargain arrangement.
Nine out of the 10 previously convicted were different companies which Ogunbodede, Tejumola and Adenose indirectly used to siphon the N177 million.
Olupona, who spoke after the judgment, told NAN that he and his other colleagues were still studying the judgment and would in due course take appropriate decision on whether to appeal or not.


Comments

Post a Comment

Trending

RATS RULING A NATION

By
Image
RATS RULING A NATION Hunger engulfed a wealthy kingdom Anger began to walk naked on the streets singing its anthem The poor cry and stone the rich with heavy words While the rich cry, but still cruise their loots. She became sicker and couldn’t sing As unknown sickness caressed the King And since her hospitals are still under-aged to handle his case His ‘eagle’ took him to the ‘heaven on earth’ to be treated by the ‘angels’. Days came and died Weeks came and never survived The trending full moon died as well And another one was born, still he never told his ‘angels’ farewell. Hunger wore heavy war shield and fought innocent stomachs Hate speeches preach gospels on her busy streets Quest for a referendum on everyone’s lips Still his voice was stolen on his sick bed by the wicked ‘Hyenas’ and ‘Jackals’. Animals had an emergency convocation And concurred never to dance the tone played by hunger and starvation Since the wicked ‘Hyenas’ and ‘Jackals’ are eating the
Read more

DON’T KILL YOURSELF

By
Image
Don’t kill yourself Life is a sweet honey The dead wish for its taste So why would you kill yourself? Don’t kill yourself Life is created for bliss That you won’t find in the other side Especially as you want to end your life yourself. Don’t kill yourself Life doesn’t have a spare Especially when suicide sowed a seed It has a destination of torment. Don’t kill yourself Though sometimes life maybe double-barreled A little suffering, a little joy Just endure, joy comes after mourning. Don’t kill yourself Only onto Him, cast your worries Because He cares for you And can do wonders to surprise your eyes. Don’t kill yourself The birds lack nothing The flowers lack no beauty Only Him feeds and beautifies them. He that knows each hair by name He that knows the stars He that makes rains Don’t you think He can make you better?
Read more

BUT OJUKWU NEVER TOLD US ( A Poem)

By
Image
BUT OJUKWU NEVER TOLD US On that Monday morning that NEPA became a saint And blessed my area on like before So reluctantly I prepared to set out from my tent Since he was to do a live broadcast after his voice was missing for three full moons. It was 7:00am and NTA sang the national jingle Followed by his beautiful face that his sickness had starved us And behind his throne was the national flag that stood still Then he opened his gap-toothed mouth to calm our nerves. He was never known for lengthy words But amidst his speech that lasted about five minutes He revealed a secret only him and the dead could attest A consensus he had with the late warrior in his hometown Daura at midnight. The late warrior was his guest for over two days according to him After he joined Partisan politics in 2003 And in great depth, they discussed the nation’s fate Whilst we ignorantly slept, and were deeply snoring like a pregnant toad. “…We both came to conclusion that the country mu
Read more