Dele Olaosebikan
THE immediate past Chairman of Ijebu-East Local Government Area of Ogun state, Mr Wale Adedayo has regained freedom from the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Services.
Disclosing this piece of news Thursday via his Facebook page, the former council, who was recently unceremoniously removed from office posted: “Olodumare is faithful. He has never failed. And He will never fail. Despite the schemings, despite the deliberate efforts, Omo Olofin Ogbolu is out. We’ll not relent. We’ll not step back. “Awa ti se ileri f’Olorun awa wipe a o se otito o, bi o ti le koro!”
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that Mr Adedayo was on Tuesday 26 September 2023 arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital on a two-count charge before Magistrate A. K Araba sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, based on a petition written by the state government.
Adedayo had accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of diverting statutory federal allocations meant for the 20 local government areas of the state. He also petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking Abiodun’s probe on the allegations.
Adedayo was later suspended by councillors, who went further to remove him from office on allegations of diverting the council’s money from what the money was meant for.
Operatives of the Police command arrested him on Monday at Ijebu-Ife and held in him custody at the Police headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.
The Police on Tuesday arraigned him in court.
The petition titled “Petition Against Wale Adedayo’s Deliberate Circulation Of Falsehood, False Report To Government, Threat To Life And Interference With The Exercise Of Executive Function” was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi.
The two-count charge read “That you Hon. Wale Adedayo ‘m’ on the 27th August 2023 at Abeokuta in the Abeokuta Magisterial District did unlawfully publish circular to the public a letter addressed to the former governor of Ogun State and elder statesman, Aremo Olusegun Osoba ‘m’ in which you accused the present governor of Ogun State: Prince Dapo Abiodun ‘m’ of hijacking local government funds which you knew was a false allegation and likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or to disturb the public peace, knowing or having reason to believe that such statement is a rumour and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 59(1) of Criminal Code laws of Ogun State, 2006.
“That you Hon. Wale Adedayo ‘m’ on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did unlawfully publish circular to the public, a letter addressed to the former governor of Ogun State and elder statesman, Aremo Olusegun Osoba ‘m’ in which you accused the present governor of Ogun State; Prince Dapo Abiodun ‘m’ of hijacking local government funds (ten percent (10%) of the state internally generated revenue which the Constitution stipulate should go to the local government(s) since May 2019 which you knew was a false allegation and likely to injure the reputation of the governor by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule or to damage him in the discharge of his office and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code laws of Ogun State, 2006.”
The Defendant’s counsel, Kayode Akinsola, applied for the bail of the accused person, saying the offences allegedly committed, were bailable.
The prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings did not object to the bail application.
In his ruling, Magistrate A.K Araba admitted him to bail in the sum of N2 million and two ‘responsible and reliable sureties’ in like sum.
Araba said the sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction of the court and must possess landed property with tax clearance.
The Magistrate, however, ordered his remand at Ibara Correctional Centre, Abeokuta pending perfection of the bail conditions.
Magistrate Araba adjourned the matter till 20 October 2023 for trial.
Eighteen-Eleven Media