Ondo State Speaker, Two Others Arraigned For N2,440 Million Seminar Fees They Didn't Attend

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, arraigned the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly,   Oleyelogun David Bamidele and two others before Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye of the Ondo State High Court for fraud. The two others are Felemu Olusegun Gudubankole, Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Oyadeji Oludeji, Secretary to the House Committee on Tertiary Institutions.

They were arraigned by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC on a two count charge bordering on conspiracy and using their office to confer corrupt or unfair advantage on themselves.

Oleyelogun, Gudubankole and Kayode are alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to engage in corrupt practices by receiving and retaining the sum of N2,440,000.00 which was meant for a seminar which they never attended.

One of the counts reads: "that you, Hon. Felemu Gudubankole whilst being the Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Institution, Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon.Oleyelogun David Bamidele whilst being a member of Ondo State House of Assembly and Oyadeji Oludeji being the Secretary to the House Committee on Tertiary Institutions, Ondo State House of Assembly on or about the 18th June 2020 in Akure, Ondo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did use your office to confer corrupt or unfair advantage to yourselves to wit: by receiving and retaining the sum of N2,440,000 (Two million, Four Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira) from the Ondo State Government meant to be used to attend a two-day seminar organised by National Productivity Centre on improving Productivity in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria which you did not attend".

They pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel , K.U.Udus to ask the court for a trial date and remand the defendants.  However, counsel to the defendants, F.E. Emodamore urged the court to discountenance EFCC's prayer and allow the defendants to continue on their administrative bail, claiming that one of the defendants had health challenge that requires medical attention.

Justice Adebusoye ruled that the defendants should continue on their administrative bail and  adjourned the matter till May 18, 2023 for trial.