The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Director-General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Professor Benjamin Adefemi Ogunbodede, and three others on a 17-count charge of conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of funds to the tune of N115 million.
Ogunbodede and the three other accused persons: Zaccheaus Tejumola, Adenose Clement and Jalekun Omitowoju were arraigned before Justice .N. Ayo Emmanuel of a Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Ogunbodede’s ordeal, according to the EFCC, started when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), IITA’s branch, petitioned the anti-graft agency, alleging that the Director- General falsely claimed to have used the sum of N115million to pay hazard allowance to its members in December 2013.
They also alleged that he claimed to have used the sum of N15million to harvest crops when he actually spent N800, 000.
When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty
One of the charges read: “That you Professor Benjamin Adefemi Ogunbodede, Zaccheaus Tejumola, Adenose Clement, Jalekun Omitowoju Yisau, Afribiz Viables Ventures, Allied Aque-Forte Ventures, Manifield Mercies Ventures, Agbeloba Agrotech Ventures Limited, Torosbury International Agency Limited, Cradle Engineering Services Limited, Momm Limited, Al-Tora Allied Business, Arieco Trading Ventures, on or about the 6th day of June, 2011 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: conversion of the sum of N115, 750,000 which sum was derived from theft and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 No.11 and punishable under section 15(1)(a) of the same Act.”
After taking their pleas, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, prayed the court for a trial date and for the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody.
He opposed the bail applications filed by counsel to the first defendant, Tunde Olupona, and counsel to the second and third defendants respectively: I. A Salawu and V.W. Adegboye.
Emmanuel adjourned the matter till 11th November 2014 for hearing and ordered that all the accused persons be remanded at Agodi prison, Ibadan.
