Sacked lecturer charged with employment fraud opts for plea bargain

A dismissed lecturer of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Mustapha Ilyas Abdulwasiu, who is charged with employment fraud has opted for a plea bargain. Abdulwasiu was docked on November 29 before Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a nine-count charge bordering on […]

A dismissed lecturer of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Mustapha Ilyas Abdulwasiu, who is charged with employment fraud has opted for a plea bargain.

Abdulwasiu was docked on November 29 before Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a nine-count charge bordering on employment scam and obtaining money under false pretence.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in Mandala Correctional Centre, pending the hearing and determination of his bail application fixed for yesterday.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, the story took another dimension when his counsel, Basir Oladipo, told the court that the accused was making move to settle with both the complainants and the prosecution.

Oladipo said: “My Lord,  we have an application which is pending before your Lordship, the application is seeking for bail, but we are making moves to see how this matter would be resolved. We have spoken with both the complainants and the prosecution (EFCC).

Responding, EFCC counsel A. A. Adebayo, agreed to the adjournment, adding that the defendant through his counsel had written a letter to the commission for plea bargain.

Justice Oyinloye, after hearing from both parties, adjourned the case to November 26.