BY KAYODE ANIMASAUN
….as Prison bars Journalists from covering proceeding
The arraignment of Bamidele Oleyelogun, Speaker Ondo state house of Assembly,by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, scheduled to hold on Tuesday at the Ondo state high court sitting at the Olokuta Correctional centre, akure has failed to take place following the absence of the counsels to the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC had in March detained the Speaker for questioning over an allegation of fraud that allegedly rocked the Assembly.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission also detained the Clerk of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Bode Adeyelu and three others staff for alleged N2.4 million seminar fraud.
Detained with the Clerk of the Assembly was the lawmaker representing Akoko South West I in the House, Felemu Bankole.
Also, two civil servants attached to the Assembly; Olusegun Kayode and Afolabi O. J. were detained over the alleged fraud.
They were said to have been kept at the detention facility of the EFCC in Lagos, while investigation continues on the alleged fraud.
The Speaker arrived the premises of the correctional centre olokuta at around half past eight o’clock in the morning in a tinted Black Prado Jeep with a pilot vehicle and another gold Kia Jeep with number plate 95 ODHA belonging to one of the house of Assembly member.
Speaking with newsmen on phone, counsel to EFCC Dibang Frederick said next date of adjournment had been picked for the arraignment of Oleyelogun for the legal team to be fully prepared.
Dibang said the charges against the Speaker will be made available when at the next adjournment date.
Meanwhile, Our correspondent and other journalists who were at the correctional centre to cover the court proceeding were however barred from entering the court premises by officials of the correctional centre.
The correctional officer who addressed the journalists said they were acting on the instruction of the state government not to allow any journalist to cover the arraignment.