Security & Crime
The corruption case against Ogun Speaker has been postponed once more
Oluomo’s case has been delayed, but the reason why is still shrouded in mystery.
Taiwo Oluomo is the speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly. An investigation into his alleged corruption has been put on hold for the second time in a row, with no explanation given.
After being detained by the anti-graft agency at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport early in September, Speaker Oluomo was initially brought before a federal high court in Lagos, where he was granted bail. The case was then moved to Ogun State.
The hearing was previously slated for November 21, 2022; however, it is claimed that pre-election issues caused a delay.
One of the EFCC attorneys, who immediately provided his name when questioned about the delay, responded, “The registrar will tell you the reason.”
Information from the court says that the case was put off because the judge in charge, Joyce Abdulmalik, said she was sick.
Around 8:30 a.m., the speaker and the other three defendants appeared at the courthouse. They were each charged with nine counts, including theft, corruption, and embezzlement.
Around 10:42 a.m., court personnel quietly informed attorneys and other parties of the adjournment. This happened after a few of the attorneys left the judge’s chambers.
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The anti-graft group said that the speaker and three other people—Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo, and Adeyanju Nimota-Amoke—shared more than N2 billion in public money among themselves.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the act is against the law under sections 18(a) and 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011, as amended, and is punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.
The anti-corruption agency has also talked to the speaker and charged him with another N900,000,000 in missing public money that the defendants are said to have stolen.