Law
Ogun State to Present Five Witnesses Against Impeached Ijebu–East Local Government Chairman
Ogun State authorities have unveiled their intention to call upon five witnesses in the legal proceedings against the impeached Chairman of Ijebu–East Local Government, Wale Adedayo.
As previously reported by Legal Attorney Blog on Tuesday, Adedayo faced arraignment by the Ogun State Police Command before a Magistrate’s Court situated in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The embattled local government boss had accused the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, of diverting statutory Federal allocations earmarked for all 20 local government areas in the state. He subsequently lodged a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urging an investigation into the allegations.
In response to these allegations against Governor Abiodun, seven councillors from the local government suspended Adedayo. Furthermore, Adedayo was subjected to a three-day interrogation by the Department of State Security (DSS), Ogun Command, in Abeokuta.
The climax of the imbroglio came when Adedayo was impeached on September 14 by five out of eleven Councillors in the local government. Subsequently, operatives of the Police command arrested him on Monday in Ijebu-Ife and transferred him to the Police headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.
Adedayo has now been arraigned on a two-count charge before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, following a petition lodged by the state government on Tuesday.
The Prosecuting Counsel, Insp. Olaide Rawlings has announced that five witnesses will be presented during the trial.
In the two-count charge against Adedayo, the police alleged that on August 27 in Abeokuta, he unlawfully published a circular to the public. The bill also contends that Adedayo knowingly and falsely accused Abiodun of hijacking local government funds in a letter addressed to former Ogun governor Olusegun Osoba. The order further asserts that this publication had the potential to incite fear, alarm, or public disturbance.
As a result, Adedayo faces an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code laws of Ogun State, 2006.
However, after the charges were read to Adedayo, he pleaded not guilty to both counts.
In response, the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Kayode Akinsola, applied for Adedayo’s bail by Section 265, arguing that his client is innocent until proven guilty. Akinsola emphasized that Adedayo has no criminal record and is unlikely to evade trial, as he has cooperated with the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) during their investigations.
“I urge the court to admit the defendant to bail, who will be willing to stand trial,” Akinsola said.
In her ruling, Magistrate A.K Araba granted Adedayo bail for two million Naira. It required two “responsible and reliable sureties” residents within the court’s jurisdiction and possess proof of landed property with a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and tax clearance.
Consequently, Adedayo was remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta until the bail conditions were met, and the trial was set to resume on October 20.
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