Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun, was, yesterday, April 25, arraigned before a High Court in Akure over an allegation of fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The arraignment of the Speaker signalled the official commencement of his trial.
Oleyelogun was docked alongside a lawmaker representing Akoko South-West Constituency II, Felemu Bankole, as well as a civil servant, Segun Oyadeyi Bankole, on a two-count charge involving fraud.
The alleged fraud was said to have been committed when four lawmakers of the assembly were supposed to have attended a two-day seminar organised by the National Productivity Centre, Lagos, scheduled for December 11 and 12, 2019 but which did not take place.
Those written down to attend the seminar were the former clerk, the deputy speaker, the chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education, and two members of the committee.
The money released by the state Ministry of Finance amounting to N2.4 million was alleged to have gone into private pockets.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations levelled against them.
In his ruling, Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye asked the defendants to continue enjoying their administrative bail till the next hearing as he adjourned the case till May 18 for a proper hearing of the trial.
