Court reserves ruling on Ex-SUBEB officials over N1.5bn fraud allegation

A high court sitting in Benin yesterday reserved till October 13 the ruling on the bail application filed by the Edo State woman leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aisosa Amadasun, ex-chairman of the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Stephen Alao and three other former board members.

The court also remanded five former executive members of the Edo State Welders Association in prison custody over alleged fraud of over N15 million belonging to the union.

The former SUBEB officials were last Thursday remanded for allegedly using their offices while serving as board members of the SUBEB to award contracts to their cronies after collecting money from them.

Counsel to the third and fourth accused persons, Barr. Ohio Candy, said the offences his clients were charged with were bail-able and urged the court to use its discretion to grant them bail.

On his part, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Barr. Harrison Ibekwute opposed the bail application, saying the law should take its course.

The presiding judge, Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele adjourned ruling on the bail applications to October13 and remanded the former executive members of the state welders association: Isaac Ogundimu, Monday Ewemade, John Odaro, Andrew Egharevba and Omorogbe Jacob.

They are facing 15 count-charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing by conversion, forgery and altering, as proffered against them by the EFCC.