You can’t sue me for fraud

Following his impeachment for alleged embezzlement of N2.4 million belonging to the State Assembly, Ondo State Assembly Speaker Mr. Bamidele Oloyeloogun told the State High Court, sitting in Akure, the state capital, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission cannot prosecute him for alleged corrupt practices.

Oloyeloogun is on trial alongside another lawmaker, Mr. Bankole Felemu-Gudu, and an assembly staff member, Mr. Olusegun Kayode. The speaker is accused of signing the money for a seminar which the lawmaker and official were supposed to attend but allegedly did not.

Kicking his lawsuit, Oloyeloogun’s lawyer, Mr. Femi Emodamori, told the court that his client could not be tried for fraud by the EFCC because the state already had its own law on Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Public Complaints Commission adopted and signed by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in January this year.

Emodamori noted that the charge against his clients was that they had committed financial crimes involving state finances and assets, and since the state had its own version of the law, the EFCC should drop the charge. continuation of the case.

EFCC lawyer Mr. Fredrick Dibang objected, saying the court had jurisdiction because the law enacted by the state assembly was contrary to the acts of the National Assembly which created the EFCC.

Judge Adegboyega Adebusoye has scheduled the objection and counter-objection hearing for November 25, 2022, after listening to arguments.