The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun the prosecution of embattled Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo.
The speaker and three others have been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The arraignment is consequent upon the filing of an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and stealing against Oluomo and his collaborators.
The charge was filed by the EFFC’s Lagos Head of Legal Monitoring Unit, Rotimi Oyedepo, on September 1, 2022.
Count 1 of the charge read, “That you Oluomo Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Amoke (now at large) sometimes in 2019 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this court conspired amongst yourselves to use the total sum of N2.475bn which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: stealing from the treasury of Ogun State House of Assembly. You thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18 (a), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
The commission said it intends to call at least 10 witnesses to testify and tender documents and exhibits.
The witnesses include Adamu Yusuf, Otitoju Kolawale, Yazid Bawa, Anyanwu Bright, Adekunbi Mojibola, Munkaila Huzaifa, and Idowu Olarenwaju.
Others are representatives of Ashkash Nigeria limited, representatives of Obasanjo Holdings Limited (managers of NNPC Mega Station) and representatives of Gateway Bank limited.
A source at the EFCC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, also confirmed to our correspondent that the commission would follow up on the case with an application in Abeokuta for the case to be heard this week at the Federal High Court in Lagos by a vacation judge.