FUNAAB VC, Oyewole and 4 others refund N4.6m

APPARENTLY to lessen their infractions, the embattled Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in Ogun State, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, and four others have joined the list of those who have returned money allegedly embezzled in the university.

On Tuesday, Oyewole allegedly paid N2.5 million to the coffers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the anti-graft agency that dragged him alongside Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, who resigned his position last week as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, and former Bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi, to court on 18-count charges of corruption.

Four others – who are members of the Governing Council – were at various times between last week and Tuesday alleged to have refunded a total of N4 million.

Oyewole, the Founder and General Overseer of Divine Height Bible Church, Abeokuta, Ogunlewe and Ilesanmi, the EFCC claimed in its charges, misappropriated over N800 million fund of the university.

They appeared before an Ogun State High Court presided over by Justice O.O. Majekodunmi, who ordered that Ogunlewe and Oyewole should be remanded at the Oba prison custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions, and Ilesanmi returned to EFCC’s detention.

The court had adjourned the commencement of trial of the accused persons till December 16, 19 and 20.

The three officials were last upper Monday released on bail after meeting the court’s conditions, and three days after he regained freedom, Ogunlewe allegedly returned N4 million to the university purse.

However, the EFCC Head of Public Affairs, Ibadan Zonal Office, Mr. Ayo Oyewole, confirmed the return of the N2.5 million by Oyewole and four others.

“The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof Olusola Oyewole and four other staff of the University have refunded N6.5million (six million and five hundred thousand naira) to the Ibadan Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” the EFCC spokesperson told on Wednesday.

He later stressed in a news release thus: “Prof Oyewole, other staff and members of the Governing Council allegedly benefited from various allowances which are illegal according to the Salaries and Wages Commission.”

The commission’s image maker explained that while the Vice-Chancellor refunded N2.5 million “from the allowances he allegedly collected to finance his daughter’s wedding, the four others who are staff of the University have also refunded the illegal allowances totaling N4m (Four million naira).”

Oyewole stated that the EFCC was fully determined to ensure that all those “who benefited from the illegal allowances windfall restitute whatever they have allegedly collected to the coffers of the University.”

“You will recall that the Vice Chancellor Professor Olusola Oyewole was arraigned alongside Senator Adesewe Ogunlewe, former Works and Housing Minister and Pro Chancellor, and Mr. Moses Olusola Ilesanmi, Bursar of the University on Friday, November 25th, 2016 before Justice O. O Majekodunmi of the State High Court sitting at Abeokuta, Ogun State on an 18-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, obtaining money by pretence and abuse of office.

“The journey to the dock began for the trio following a petition submitted to the EFCC by a Concerned Stakeholders of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta alleging that the Pro Chancellor, the Chancellor and the Bursar were engaged in an ‘unbridled corruption and betrayal of public trust.”

Though, EFCC did not disclose the names of the four others who returned the money, but it would be recalled that apparently to escape prosecution and yield to the directive of Ogunlewe, the ex-Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako, had returned N1.4 million.

It was gathered that Salako refunded the money via bank draft issued by the FUNAAB branch of the Guaranty Trust Bank last Wednesday at 9.15am.

“It was in respect of the money collected for children wedding ceremony as allocated for members of Governing Council,” the source explained.

The credible source explained that the Governing Council of the university had been thrown into confusion following the insistence of Ogunlewe that all members who collected “illegal” money from the university must return them to avoid prosecution by the EFCC.

“Peace has eluded the Governing Council since Senator Ogunlewe advised them to return all monies collected from the Vice-Chancellor; they have been in jittery mood because I think they are afraid of being prosecuted and sent to jail,” the source said.

The source added: “I can tell you authoritatively that more members of the council will pay money back into the purse of the university.  Just let us wait for this new week to know how many of them would refund their ‘illegal’ money.”