WorldStage Newsonline— The former Minister of Works, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe has been discharged and acquitted by an Ogun High Court sitting in Abeokuta over an alleged N409 million fraud at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB).
Others discharged were Prof. Olusola Oyewole, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the university, and the Bursar, Mr Moses Ilesanmi.
Delivering judgment, Justice Olatokunbo Majekodunmi held that the EFCC failed in establishing prima facie against the accused persons.
Majekodunmi said the EFCC was also unable to prove all the allegations beyond reasonable doubt to warrant their conviction.
The judge further held that all the evidences presented by the prosecution had been manifestly discredited during cross examination by all the prosecution witnesses.
Majekodunmi said the court was under obligation not to rely on discredited testimonies.
“The suit brought against the accused persons is hereby dismissed for lacking in merit. The accused persons are also discharged and acquitted,’’ the judge said.
The EFCC had on Nov. 26, 2016, arraigned the trio on an 18-count charge bordering on alleged stealing, abuse of office and fraudulent conversion of N409 million belonging to the university.
Ogunlewe, who was the former Pro-Chancellor of FUNAAB, and the two other principal officers were arrested by EFCC operatives following a petition by some members of the university.
