N1.03m fraud: Former LG boss bags 2 years

The presiding Judge, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, found Ajose guilty of using his office to confer corrupt advantages during his tenure as the chairman of the local government under the Alliance for Democracy, between 1999 and 2001. The former local government boss who is currently a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was arraigned by […]

The presiding Judge, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, found Ajose guilty of using his office to confer corrupt advantages during his tenure as the chairman of the local government under the Alliance for Democracy, between 1999 and 2001.

The former local government boss who is currently a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in 2007 on a six-count charge of corrupt enrichment.  The offence according to the anti-graft agency, is contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In his judgement, Justice Oyewole held that: “In the circumstances therefore, the defendant is hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment without an option of fine on each of counts one, two, five and six. Corruption has been broadly identified as major impediments to the growth of our nation and as given to monstrous proportions in that wise, every proven incidence thereof must not be treated with kid gloves if the monster is to be tamed.”

The anti-graft agency had among other things, accused the former chairman of collecting N183, 500 belonging to the council for purportedly attending a three-day seminar.

But ICPC found out during investigations that he never attended the seminar purportedly organised by the Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry between June 27 and 29, 2000.

All the other charges bordered on the council boss using the seminar as a ploy to swindle the local government.