BREAKING: Ondo House of Assembly speaker lands in EFCC net, details emerge

Bamidele Oloyeloogun, the speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, was arraigned before the state high court in Akure on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraud.

Also on the arraignment list was Felemu Bankole, the lawmaker representing Akoko South/West Constituency 1 in the state assembly and Segun Oyadeyi Bankole, a civil servant, Channels Television reported.

The defendants have, however, pleaded not guilty to the allegations levelled against them.

Ondo state is one of the strongholds of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the southwest. Kingsley Kudus, counsel to the anti-graft agency, urged the court to remand the speaker and the 2 others at the Olokuta correctional facility in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

Kudus told the court that though the defendants have pleaded not guilty, they are still at the mercy of the court while the trial last.

Barrister Femi Emodamori, counsel to the speaker and others, expressed his readiness for the commencement and continuation of the trial.

He then told the court to dismiss the prayer of the EFCC for remand, revealing that the defendants' administrative bail application was still active.

The defence counsel explained that the speaker was having health-related challenges that required him to have urgent medical attention. Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye of the high court then ruled that the defendant should be granted the defendants' administrative bail till the time the court sits again.

The case was then adjourned till May 18, 2023, for a proper hearing.