*Says ICPC failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the money allocated to NIHORT was misappropriated
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has discharged and acquitted a former Director of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ademola Idowu, on a bribe charge.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Maruf Adegbola also discharged and acquitted NIHORT Accountant, Isaiah Ajisafe; and David Ikyobo, a Consultant and Ikyobo’s company, Messrs Sterling Design and Associate Limited.
The judge held that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the money allocated to NIHORT was misappropriated.
Justice Adegbola in his judgememt said “The defendants are accordingly discharged and acquitted of all the nine counts charge. The charge is hereby struck out.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related offences Commission filed a nine count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud against Idowu, Ajisafe, Director of Messrs Sterling Designs Associates Limited, David Ikyobo and his company.
The ICPC alleged that Ikyobo and his company gave N3 million as kickback to the former NIHORT Director and former Head of Accounts and Finance to be appointed as the institute’s consultant.
ICPC also alleged that Ajisafe, a Chartered Accountant, being the Head of Accountants and Finance of NIHORT, received N1.2 million as benefit from Sterling Design and Associates Limited and alleged that Idowu, while serving as the Executive Director of NIHORT between 2008 and 2013, received N1.8 million as a benefit from Sterling Design and Associates Limited.
Alleging Idowu and Ajisafe of conspiring to transfer N5 million from the Personnel Emolument Fund of the institute to the Vegetable Development Company Account for the account opening, it alleged that the defendants, being public officers, used their positions to confer corrupt advantage upon themselves, contrary to section 19 of ICPC Act, 2000 and that the incident happened between November 11, 2008 and May 5, 2009 when the defendants were in service
