The Osun State High Court sitting in Ede has ordered that the immediate former Acting Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Anthony Elujoba be further remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The anti-graft agency had on Wednesday arrested Professor Elujoba alongside the school’s Bursar, Mrs Josephine Akeredolu on alleged financial corruption and abuse of office. Professor Elujoba and Mrs Akeredolu were arraigned on Friday before Justice David Oladimeji on seven counts of intent to steal money belonging to the institution and conspiracy to defraud the school among others. The defence lead counsel, Ibrahim Lawal, who had earlier filed a bail application before the court, prayed that they be further remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of the application. The EFCC counsel Festus Ojo, however, opposed the prayer and asked that the defendants be remanded in Ilesha Prison. In his ruling, Justice Oladimeji ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of the application on Tuesday, July 11. Meanwhile, some members of staff of the university including the present Vice Chancellor of OAU, Professor Temitope Ogunbodede gathered outside the court to declare support for Professor Elujoba. The workers who carried placards with various inscriptions described his arraignment as an “injustice to an innocent man”. They urged the EFCC to look into the case properly and bring the real looters to book and release the former OAU acting vice chancellor.
