The impeached Speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, and two other principal officers, Dayo Samuel and Adeyemo Adedeji, faced arraignment on Monday before a Federal High Court in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta. The trio was brought to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges of misappropriation of public funds amounting to N2.5 billion, allegedly committed during Oluomo’s tenure as Speaker in 2022.
Oluomo, who was recently removed by 18 out of 26 lawmakers over allegations of financial misappropriation, highhandedness, misconduct, arrogance, poor leadership, lack of transparency, and fostering discord among members, contested the legality of his removal. He claimed to have filed a lawsuit at the state high court to challenge his impeachment.
Upon entering the dock on Monday, it was discovered that the counsel for the EFCC could not attend the proceedings. In response, the presiding judge, Justice Agatha Okeke, adjourned the case to February 29 and March 1.
The EFCC had previously arrested and arraigned Oluomo in September 2022, accusing him, along with the Clerk of the House, Taiwo Adeyemo, and the Director of Finance, Oladayo Samuel, of diverting N2.5 billion from the Assembly. The charges included allegations of forging receipts and signatures to redirect substantial funds from the legislative house.
Despite pleading not guilty, Oluomo and his co-defendants were granted bail and instructed to submit their travel documents at the court registry. The legal proceedings continue, with the next hearing scheduled for the end of February and the beginning of March.
