A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has convicted Mr. Jalekun Yisau for conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of funds to the tune of N115 million.
Also convicted are his companies – Afribiz Viables Ventures, Allied Aque-Forte Ventures, Manifield Mercies Ventures, Agbeloba Agrotech Ventures Ltd, Torosbury International Agency Ltd, Cradle Engineering Services Ltd, Momm Limited, Al-Tora Allied Business and Arieco Trading Ventures.
The convicts were charged before Justice N. Ayo Emmanuel alongside a former Director of Institute of Agriculture, Research and Training (IART), Prof Benjamin Ogunbodede, Zaccheaus Tejumola and Adenose Clement.
They were first arraigned on October 30, 2014 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They all pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge bordering on misappropriation and diversion of funds to the tune of N115 million proffered against them by the EFCC.
But at the resumed hearing on June 17, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court of the intention of the 4th defendant (Yisau) who is also the alter ego of the 5th to 13th defendants to change their plea from “not guilty” to “guilty”.
Yisau’s counsel, Akin Ladipo, confirmed the information presented by the prosecution. Consequently, the charges that applied to the convicts were read to them and they pleaded “guilty”.
In view of their plea, Oyedepo, according to Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, urged the court to convict them accordingly.
But the trio of Tunde Olupona, I. A. Salawu and Mrs B. Y. Adegboyega counsel to Professor Ogunbodede, Tejumola and Clement respectively, opposed the plea bargain agreement, contending that the proceed- ing before the court was a joint trial and that the plea bargain agreement would prejudice the other parties involved in this matter. Emmanuel overruled their objections, convicted and sentenced the 4th to 13th defendants to two and half years imprisonment each on counts 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 14 and 17.
The sentence would take effect from October 30, 2014 when the defendants were first arraigned. They are also to sign a bond with the EFCC, seven days after their release, to be of good conduct and never get involved in financial crimes both within and outside Nigeria. The judge adjourned the matter till July 1 for the continuation of trial.
Newtelegraph
