The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continues in its investigation over allegations of fraud against former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel as the anti-graft agency yesterday raided the office of a telecommunications firm, 21st Century, towards unraveling its managing director’s role in the alleged looting of the Ogun State treasury.
The company’s chief executive, Mr. Wale Ajisebutu, who is believed to be an associate of the former governor, was alleged to be connected to how $1 million was stolen from the Ogun State government’s domiciliary account with First City Monument Bank (FCMB). The EFCC claims the money was found in Ajisebutu’s account.
Meanwhile, respite has come the way of the embattled Daniel as an Abeokuta High Court yesterday granted him bail.
EFCC’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the raid on 21st Century office of Ajisebutu, but declined to give details. The Guardian learnt that Ajisebutu is currently in EFCC custody. Former Ogun State Finance Commissioner, Kehinde Sogunle and former Chief of Staff to Daniel, Yomi Majekodunmi, were both recently arrested and kept in custody at the EFCC office in Ikoyi for two days before they were granted administrative bail and released. They are to return to EFCC on Monday.
Daniel was yesterday granted bail in the sum of N500 million by the State High Court presided over by Olanrenwaju Mabekoje as the judge. He was to provide two sureties in like sum with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. The sureties were asked to submit the title to the properties and two passport photographs to the court registrar.
Arguing Daniel’s application for bail, his lead counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan pleaded that the conditions should be liberal. He pleaded with Mabekoje not to ask any civil servant to be one of the sureties, explaining that “ the civil servants are employees of the government, they (civil servants) will therefore be loyal to their employer”.
The EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) however opposed the granting of Daniel bail, arguing that doing so should not be automatic, but rather the judge should use his discretion, considering the gravity of Daniel’s offence. He added that there was no authority binding on the Judge concerning how to exercise such discretion.
Giving reasons why Daniel should not be granted bail, Jacobs told the judge that the former governor has a “killer squad” that he could use to threaten the EFCC counsel and their families, if granted bail. The defence lawyer urged the judge to use his discretion to either grant him (Daniel) bail or refuse the application.
Osipitan, however, dismissed Jacobs’ argument, saying “the submission is sentimental.” “They (Prosecution) have conceded that Daniel is entitled to bail but must be granted “Judiciarily and judiciously,” he said.
After the submissions of both counsel, Justice Mabekoje adjourned for three hours and 10 minutes and gave his ruling on resumption. He said there was no sufficient material before the court to warrant denial of bail to the accused person.
He observed that the accused voluntarily presented himself to the EFCC for arrest and said there was no cause to believe that he will not make himself available for trial.
Mabekoje also dismissed the argument that the accused could interfere with the investigation and use his alleged killer squad to intimidate witnesses. The trial Judge said there was no evidence before the court that such killer squad exists.
The judge fixed November 17 and 18 for commencement of trial.
But despite the granting of the bail, Daniel didn’t have it easy to get his freedom from the custody of the EFCC. Though the sureties met the conditions, the court officials, as at 4.00pm, were insisting that they had to confirm the authenticity of the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the landed property which the sureties brought to back up the conditions of bail.
This became an impossible task as civil servants had been on strike since Wednesday, hence the Land Ministry was not available to attend to such enquiry.
It was learnt later that the issue was eventually resolved by 5.30pm and that Daniel was released, after which he left for his Sagamu residence.