The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s governorship candidate in last month’s Osun State election, Ademola Adeleke has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged examination malpractice.
Adeleke was on Wednesday arraigned alongside four others in a four-count charge for impersonation and registering as students of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Ojo-Aro Osun State to enable him sit for the National Examination Council (NECO) examination of June/July 2017.
The others are: the senator’s relative, Sikiru Adeleke; the principal of the school, Aregbosola Muftau; the registrar of the school, Gbadegesin Thomas Ojo; and a teacher in the school, Dare Samuel Olutope.
Following the plea of not guilty by all the defendants, Justice Edward Eko granted the lawmaker bail on self-recognition.
The judge ordered that he is however, to deposit his international passport with the court registrar, while he can only travel out of the country on the court’s approval.
The judge directed Senator Adeleke to sign a bond guaranteeing that he will attend the trial till end.
The judge ordered the other three defendants to produce the sum of N2m bail bonds and one surety each in like sum.
According to the judge, the sureties must have a landed properties in the FCT, which titles will be verified by the registrar of the court.
Prosecution counsel, Simon Lough, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, did not object to the bail, explaining that the defendants who were already on Police administrative bail, did not abuse the terms of their bail.
Meanwhile, the judge directed the remand of Ojo and Olutope after refusing an oral application for their bail by one of the defence lawyers, Alex Izinyon (SAN) and N.O.Oke (SAN).
The case has been adjourned to December 17, 18 and 19 for continuation of trial.
