By Steve Oni, Ilorin
Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has granted the bail application brought by a Kwara based contractor, Chief Joseph Oluwole Komolafe, who is being prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud of N31m.
The EFCC had on Thursday 20th of February 2020 dragged Chief Komolafe to Court on a one count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of about N31m which was meant for supplying of laboratory equipment to the University of Ilorin.
The Charge against Komolafe stated: “That you, Oluwole Kamolafe, being the alter ego of Destiny Work Limited, sometime in July, 2015, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did cheat Femimat Concept Limited the sum of N31, 500,000.00 (Thirty One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) when you intentionally induced Femimat Concept Limited to supply laboratory equipment in respect of a contract worth N128,199,968.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Eight Million One Hundred and Ninety Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and sixty Eight Naira) to University of Ilorin in your stead, which he would not supply but for your inducement and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 320 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 322 of the same Penal Code.”
Moving his bail application on Friday, Lead Counsel to the defendant, A.O Adelodun (SAN) told Justice Abdulgafarthat: “My Lord, we have a humble application seeking for bail of the defendant pending the hearing and determination of this matter.
“The application is brought pursuant to section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, we submit that the Offence upon which the defendant is being prosecuted before your Lordship is bailable.”
Responding, Prosecution Counsel, A.A Adebayo, told the Presiding Judge that: “My Lord, we have filed a counter affidavit in opposition to the bail application, we relied on all the affirments there and therefore urged the Court to dismiss the application.”
Justice Abdulgafar however granted the accused person bail in the sum of five million naira with one surety who has a landed property in Ilorin.
The case has been adjourned till 10th of March 2020 for commencement of trial.
End
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