The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Bamidele Oloyelogun, has been arraigned before the state High Court in Akure by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraudulent practices. Also arraigned alongside the Speaker are the lawmaker representing the Akoko South-West Constituency 2, Mr Felemu Bankole, and a staff of the Assembly, Mr Segun Bankole.

The defendants were arraigned on two counts bordering on fraud and pleaded not guilty to the charges. During the trial, the EFCC counsel, Kingsley Kudus, prayed the court to remand the defendants in prison custody, but the defendants’ counsel, Femi Emodamori, argued that the administrative bail application on the defendants was still active.

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Emodamori also asked the court to caution the nominal complainant, the former Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, for allegedly sending messages to the Speaker in an attempt to annoy him.

At the last hearing, the court dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the defendants to prevent them from being tried, as they claimed that the EFCC had no power to prosecute them as the assets they were facing trial for belonged to the state.

However, the court held that the anti-graft commission had the power to investigate and prosecute the defendants for the alleged fraud. Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye asked the defendants to continue enjoying their administrative bail till the next hearing and adjourned the case till May 18, 2023, for proper hearing of the trial.