N177m fraud: Ex-IART D-G, Ogubodede, bags 40 years jail term
Andrew Orolua ,Abuja
The Federal High Court in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has sentenced a former Director-General, Institute of Agriculture Research and Training, IART, Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Benjamin Adefemi Ogunbodede to 40 years jail term without an option of fine.
Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel handed out the sentences while delivering a judgment in 17- count criminal charge filed against Ogunbodede, Zacheaus Tejumola, Adenose Clement and Jalekun Omotowoju by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convicts were tried for offences bordering on conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of funds to the tune of N177 million.
Trouble started for the convicts following a petition dated December 17, 2012, written by the Academic Staff Union of the institute, alleging that Ogunbodede falsely claimed to have used N115million to pay hazard allowance to the members of staff of the institute in December 2013.
It was also alleged that Ogunbodede claimed to have used N15million to harvest crops. But investigation proved that he actually spent N800, 000 to harvest the crops.
The convicts had all pleaded not guilty to the charge when they were arraigned on June 16, 2014, thereby setting the stage for their trial.
In the course of the trial, the prosecution presented 15 witnesses and tendered relevant documents, which were all admitted in evidence.
But their defence collapsed in 2016 when 10 other accused persons in the matter pleaded guilty to the charge and subsequently entered into a plea bargain arrangement with the EFCC
