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| Omotosho |
A lawyer, who went to the Ikoyi, Lagos State office of
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to offer the operatives
bribe of N1. 2 million, on behalf of his client, has been arrested along with
his client.
The lawyer, Ayodele Owoka and his client, the Chief
Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Dr. Olufemi
Omotosho were arraigned before Justice Lateef Lawal Akapo of the Lagos
High Court, sitting in Ikeja on a 5-count charge bordering on conspiracy
to offer gratification to a public officer, destroying of evidence and giving
of false information.
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| Omotosho |
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| Awoka |
The lawyer, who allegedly convinced his client that he knew intricate workings of the EFCC operatives minds’ on February 27, stormed the commissions’ office, armed with monetary bribe he was sure the operatives would accept and turn the case in favour of his client.
He was however shocked to his bone marrows when they
slammed handcuffs on him, charging for attempting to bribe and officers of the
law.
The EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said: “Owoka was arrested on February 27, 2014 at the EFCC's office in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he had gone to bribe a team of operatives investigating a case of contract inflation, abuse of office, stealing, embezzlement and misappropriation of funds at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State.
“The lawyer confessed after his arrest that he offered the operatives, N1, 200,000.00, which was allegedly given to him by Omotosho, to bribe the team to soft pedal on their investigations. Owoka said he was offered a total sum of N1, 500,000.00, but withheld N300, 000 for his personal use.”
When the charges were read to the two accused persons, they pleaded not guilty.
One of the charge reads: “That you Ayodele Owoka and Dr Olufemi Omotosho on or about the 27th day of February, 2014 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judiciary Division conspired to commit felony by offering gratification to a public officer to wit: Usman Zakari and the investigating team of the EFCC, in order that they refrain from acting in the exercise of their official duties regarding the investigation of the petition against you for fraud at the Federal Medical Centre Owo”.
In view of the plea of the defendants, prosecution counsel, Oyedepo Rotimi asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody. But counsel to the 1st and 2nd defendants, E.C Eshieawene and O. Wahab were opposed to the move to remand the defendants in prison custody. They prayed the court to use discretion and remand them at the EFCC custody.
Justice Lawal Akapo, having considered the plea of counsels to the defendants, ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody and the matter was adjourned to March 12, 2015 for argument on bail application.
The EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said: “Owoka was arrested on February 27, 2014 at the EFCC's office in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he had gone to bribe a team of operatives investigating a case of contract inflation, abuse of office, stealing, embezzlement and misappropriation of funds at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State.
“The lawyer confessed after his arrest that he offered the operatives, N1, 200,000.00, which was allegedly given to him by Omotosho, to bribe the team to soft pedal on their investigations. Owoka said he was offered a total sum of N1, 500,000.00, but withheld N300, 000 for his personal use.”
When the charges were read to the two accused persons, they pleaded not guilty.
One of the charge reads: “That you Ayodele Owoka and Dr Olufemi Omotosho on or about the 27th day of February, 2014 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judiciary Division conspired to commit felony by offering gratification to a public officer to wit: Usman Zakari and the investigating team of the EFCC, in order that they refrain from acting in the exercise of their official duties regarding the investigation of the petition against you for fraud at the Federal Medical Centre Owo”.
In view of the plea of the defendants, prosecution counsel, Oyedepo Rotimi asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody. But counsel to the 1st and 2nd defendants, E.C Eshieawene and O. Wahab were opposed to the move to remand the defendants in prison custody. They prayed the court to use discretion and remand them at the EFCC custody.
Justice Lawal Akapo, having considered the plea of counsels to the defendants, ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody and the matter was adjourned to March 12, 2015 for argument on bail application.
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