Media aide to former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, Lere Olayinka, has been arraigned before an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court by the Ekiti police.
He was brought before the court on Wednesday, accused of abuse of office, stealing and fraud during the administration of Fayose in the state.
The police prosecutor, Insp. Johnson Okunade, told the court that Olayinka committed the offence between 2014 and 2018 at Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State at Ilokun in Ado-Ekiti.
He alleged that “the defendant, who was the spokesman of the former Governor of Ekiti State, as a public officer, abused his office when he failed to remit the commercial revenue which accrued to the BSES totalling N13.5m to the coffers of Ekiti State Government.”
The prosecutor also alleged that “the defendant, being the director-general of BSES, abused his office when he authorised travelling allowance totalling N7m in his name for journeys not embarked on.”
Furthermore, the Police Inspector alleged that “the defendant also stole N13.5m belonging to the BSES for his own personal use.
All the alleged offences, the prosecutor told the court, contravened sections 104, 390(5) and 419 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
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The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His lawyer, a former Attorney General of Ekiti State, Mr. Kolapo Kolade, urged the court to grant his client bail, promising that he would not jump bail.
Also, Okunade, asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and present his witnesses.
The chief magistrate, Adesoji Adegboye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.
He ruled that “one of the sureties must be a community leader, while the second must produce a proof of landed ownership.”
The case was adjourned till April 27 for hearing.
Meanwhile, Olayinka who reacted to his detention and arraignment for alleged fraud by the police said he would not be intimidate nor silenced by the action.
He described it as the usual political persecution.
The statement read: “I was invited by the police and I willingly honoured the invitation because I have nothing to hide. It is, however, funny that after the police had agreed to grant me administrative bail yesterday and I was ready to meet the bail conditions, the state government put pressure on the police, seeking the invocation of ‘Form K’ to allow for my detention for two months.
“Whatever they planned to achieve with this, I can say it boldly that they have failed and I will never be harassed to submission. I am used to their tactics and like it happened eight years ago, tyranny will be defeated again.
“I thank Nigerians who showed concern and I assure them that I won’t succumb to tyranny. As for those who rejoiced over my detention with the belief that the perfected plan to have me remanded in prison custody indefinitely will succeed, especially those in the camp of Senator Biodun Olujimi in the PDP in Ekiti State, now that your joy has been short-lived, what else?”
