Court Nabs Fayose’s Spokesman Over Alleged N20.5m Fraud
POLITICS DIGEST – An Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Wednesday arraigned Mr. Lere Olayinka, spokesman of the former governor Ayodele Fayose, over alleged financial impropriety and abuse of office.
Olayinka was brought before Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye on a three count charge of abuse of office, stealing and fraud.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Okunade, said the defendant committed the offence between 2014 and 2018 while over-seeing the Ekiti State Broadcasting Service at Ilokun area in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
He alleged that the defendant, as a public officer grossly abuse his office when he fail to remit N13. 5m revenue accrued to the Broadcasting service into the government’s coffer.
He told the court that the defendant, being the DG of the broadcasting station obtained N7m under false pretense as travelling allowance from the agency’s account.
Okunade added that the defendant deliberately stole N13.5m belonging to the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State to his own personal use.
The prosecutor noted that the offences contravened section 104, 390(5) and 419 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
He asked the court for adjournment to enable him to study the case file and present his witnesses.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His counsel, Former Attorney General of Ekiti State, Mr Kolapo Kolade, urged the court to grant his client bail, with a promise that he would not jump bail.
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The Chief Magistrate Adegboye granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum and having a verifiable addresses.
Adegboye ruled that one of the sureties must be a community leader, while the second must produce a proof of landed ownership.
He adjourned the case until April 27 for hearing.
While reacting, Olayinka described his
arraignment for alleged fraud and abuse of office as a political persecution and an attempt to silence him from exposing the ills of the Governor Fayemi-led government.
He advised the APC-led government to dissipate its energy to provide succour to the disillusioned people of the state instead of running after perceived opposition.
“It was funny that I was being persecuted the way I was persecuted, arrested, detained and tried for sedition in 2012 during Fayemi first term in office.
“I was invited by the police and I willingly honoured the invitation because I have nothing to hide.
“It is however funny that after the police had agreed to grant me administrative bail yesterday and I was ready to meet the bail conditions, the State Government put pressure on the police, seeking the invocation of ‘Form K’ to allow for my detention for two months.
“Whatever they planned to achieve with this, I can say it boldly that they have failed and I will never be harassed to submission.
“I am used to their tactics and like it happened eight years ago, tyranny will be defeated again.
“I thank Nigerians who showed concern and I assure that I won’t succumb to tyranny.
“As for those who rejoiced over my detention with the belief that the perfected plan to have me remanded in prison custody indefinitely will succeed, especially those in the camp of Senator Biodun Olujimi in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, now that your joy has been short-lived, what else?”he said.
