Justice

Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court Ibadan, on Friday struck out an application for a no-case submission filed by Mr Clement Adenose, an accused in the N115 million fraud case at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training.

Ayo-Emmanuel held that from the evidence before him, Adenose had questions to answer because he was linked to the withdrawal of some of the money in question

“Based on the evidence before me, the third accused (Adenose) still needs to make some explanations as to the collection of the N7.5 million from the account,” the judge said.

He adjourned the case till March 30 for continuation of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Adenose had through his counsel, Mrs Yetunde Adegboye, filed a no-case submission, saying the EFCC had not been able to establish any case against her client.

She contended that the evidence which the anti-graft commission had was not reliable and should be discountenanced.

The EFCC, however, argued that the accused person had a case to answer.

NAN also reports that Prof. Benjamin Ogunbodede, Zachius Tejumola and Adenose, along with 10 others had since 2014 been standing trial over 17 charges.

The charges bordered on unlawful conversion, conspiracy, forgery and stealing of N115 million hazard allowance at the institute located on Moore Plantation, Ibadan.

The fourth to the 13th accused persons, who had opted for plea bargain, had since been indicted and convicted.

(NAN)