EFCC to arraign Ogun Speaker in Lagos Monday

Adeleye Kunle Reports

The Ogun State House of Assembly Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, is to be arraigned in Lagos on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged financial crimes, an impeccable source within the anti-graft agency confirmed to our correspondent Saturday night.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, noted that the agency was leaving no stone unturned in its bid to arraign the Chief lawmaker, adding that some political actors had been making efforts to stall the arraignment.

He said, “We’re leaving no stone unturned concerning this Oluomo’s matter. He will be arraigned in court in Lagos State on Monday or later in the week, as we’re currently preparing charges against him.

“We’re arraigning him in Lagos because it’s a jurisdictional matter. Some highly placed personality are doing everything to frustrate his arraignment, but he’s expected to go explain or defend himself in court on Monday.”

The Speaker was arrested by officials of the EFCC at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Thursday morning and secretly flown to Abuja, and was still in the custody of the anti-graft agency, Saturday night.

He was said to have been on the wanted list of the commission following his failure to honour the EFCC’s invitation several times.

Oluomo and others (yet to be named) were accused of forging signatures and financial documents belonging to the state Assembly.

The EFCC National and South-West spokespersons, Mr Wilson Uwujaren and Mr Dele Oyewale, did not respond to their calls nor responded to WhatsApp and text messages from our correspondent, Saturday night.

A member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing the ruling All Progressives Congress, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, however, confirmed the situation.

He said, “The information you got is correct. Our speaker was arrested by officials of the EFCC earlier this morning. From what I gathered, he was alleged to have been involved in misappropriation and embezzlement of funds.”

It was further gathered that the absence of the Speaker prevented the House from observing its last Thursday sitting.

Our correspondent learnt that the Deputy Speaker, Akeem Balogun, who is statutorily saddled with the responsibility of conducting the businesses of the Assembly, also could not convene the sitting of the House.

When our correspondent visited the Assembly complex on Thursday, staff members of the Assembly were seen gathering in groups and discussing in a hushed tone.

A source at the Assembly confided in our correspondent that the Speaker’s refusal to honour the EFCC’s invitation was premised on the existing litigation instituted by the Assembly earlier in January this year at the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, against the agency.

Speaking on the development, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Yussuf Adejojo, said the Speaker’s arrest might have prevented the lawmakers from observing its sitting.