N2.4bn Fraud: Court Grants Ogun Speaker Leave To Travel For Medicals

Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High court in Lagos on Tuesday granted permission to the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Taiwo Oluomo to travel abroad for a medical check.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on September 6, 2022, arraigned the embattled Speaker, before Justice Daniel Osiagor, during the annual vacation of the court, over allegations of stealing the sum of N2.4 billion.

 The anti-graft docked Oluomos alongside the Director of Finance of the Assembly, Oladayo Samuel, and the Clerk of the House, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo before Justice Osiagor on an 11-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, and forgery.

 EFCC prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo SAN had told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences between 2019 and 2022.

 He said that the incident took place in Ogun State.

 Oyedepo also told the court that they stole the sum of N2.475 billion from the treasury of the Ogun State House of Assembly.

 The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

 While moving the motion, dated and filed on July 26, 2023, Oluomo prayed the court to grant him leave to travel for a medical check-up.

 Oluomo, through his counsel Chukwudi Nmaduka, said,” We have two motion expertise dated and filed on July 26, 2023, seeking permission to hear the application for leave to travel abroad for a medical check-up during the annual vacation.

 “The motion seeking to travel abroad have been served on the prosecution brought under Section 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution.

 “The motion is supported with five grounds and 21 paragraphs affidavit, deposed to by the applicant, and attached to the affidavit are three exhibits, backed with a written address.

 “We humbly urge my lord to grant the prayers,” he submitted.

 The EFCC’s prosecution counsel Abbass Mohammed did not oppose the application.

 In a short ruling, Justice Oweibo granted the application as prayed.

He said,” the unopposed application is hereby granted as prayed”.

Justice Oweibo remitted the file back to Abeokuta where the case is being tried.