Alleged N2.5bn fraud: Impeached Ogun Speaker docked as security operatives order journalists out of court

The impeached Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, was on Monday docked in a Federal High Court sitting in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

The former Speaker was docked alongside two other officers of the state Assembly, Dayo Samuel and Adeyemo Adedeji.

Oluomo and the duo were dragged before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged misappropriation of N2.5 billion.

Oluomo allegedly committed the fraud while serving as the Speaker of the Assembly in 2022.

Aside from the N2.5 billion fraud case, 18 out of 26 lawmakers signed for his impeachment over allegations bordering on high-handedness, gross misconduct, arrogance, poor leadership style, lack of focus and transparency, and pitching members against themselves.

This former Speaker has, however, vowed to fight back as he told journalists that he had instituted a legal battle against the members of the Assembly.

On Monday, shortly after the trio entered the dock, the court discovered that the counsel to the EFCC was absent.

The Judge, Justice O.O Okeke, however, adjourned the case to 29th February and 1st of March.

Journalists barred

Drama however ensued at 10:04 am when the presiding judge, Justice Okeke, stepped out of her chamber and as the Speaker’s case was mentioned, two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, approached the DAILY POST reporter, insisting that he should leave the courtroom on the orders of the Court Registrar.

When A reporter met the Acting Court Registrar in his office and asked why he was prevented from witnessing the proceedings, he denied ever giving such orders.

The registrar also summoned the NSCDC officer to his office for questioning.

But the NSCDC officer, who removed his name tag, denied ordering the journalist out of court saying, “I only asked him to meet the Registrar before covering the proceeding.”