Prof. Richard Iyiola Akindele, the former lecturer with Obafemi Awolowo University, accused by her student, Monica Osagie, of demanding sex to pass her has been remanded in prison custody.
Akindele was arraigned on Monday by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission before Justice Maureen Onyetenu of a Federal High Court, Osogbo, on four counts bordering on alteration of age and demanding sex to pass his student.
A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo remanded Akindele in prison custody.
Dressed in all-white attire, Akindele, pleaded not guilty to all the four counts pressed against him.
The charge reads: “That on 16th day of September, 2017 or thereabout, you corruptly asked for sexual benefits for yourself from one Monica Osagie for a favour that would be thereafter shown to her by upgrading her academic record from fail to pass, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 8 (1)a and 2 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission Act 2000.
“That you solicited sexual benefits from the victim on 16th of September, 2017 or thereabout for a favour to be given to you, the act contrary to and punishable under Section 18 (b) of the ICPC Act.
“That you deliberately concealed evidence, with the intent to remove parts of the conversation between you and the victim, contrary to Section 15 (1) and (2) of the ICPC Act.
“That you falsified your age by saying, under interrogation, that you were born on April 19, 1961, while in your personal file retrieved from OAU, you claimed you were born on April 19, 1959, an act contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of ICPC Acts, 2000.”
Addressing the court, the senior legal officer, ICPC, Kehinde Adetoye, said the prosecution was ready for definite hearing of the matter.
Defense counsel, Francis Omotoso, who appeared with two other lawyers, however, observed that the name of the counsel that signed the charge sheet of the case was not marked.
He said three names were listed, but the one that signed the charge sheet among the three was not marked.
Responding to the observation, Adetoye explained that Ebenezer Adenekan, the lead counsel for the ICPC, signed for other counsel involved in the matter.
Asked by the court if ready for definite hearing of the matter, the defense counsel, after initially declaring readiness for hearing, pleaded for more time to study the charge sheet.
He said the prosecution only served him 30 minutes before the sitting commenced.
Reacting to the claim, prosecution counsel, Ayantoye, said that for weeks, he made efforts to reach the defendant and serve him, adding that Akindele could not be reached through his mobile line.
Although the defense counsel made oral application for bail for the defendant, Justice Onyetenu insisted on an affidavit.
She subsequently adjourned the matter to Tuesday, November 27, 2018 for definite hearing and remanded Akindele in prison custody.
Punch
