An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has sentenced Olayiwola Oguntade, a former staff member of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), to five years in prison for fraud.
Oguntade faced a three-count amended charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges, which included forgery, advance fee fraud, and obtaining by false pretence, involved the sum of N10 million.
One of the charges stated, “That you, Olayiwola Oguntade, sometime in 2010 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N10,000,000 by false pretence through Kola Al-Amin from Polybadan Microfinance Bank Ltd and thereby committed an offence of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 1 (i) (b) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.”
Oguntade, who pleaded “not guilty” at his arraignment on October 13, 2020, set the stage for a lengthy trial lasting over four years. During the proceedings, the EFCC prosecution team, led by Oyelakin Oyediran and Lanre Suleiman, presented 10 witnesses and submitted several incriminating documents that were accepted as evidence by the court.
In delivering his verdict on January 28, Justice Bayo Taiwo stated that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He described the evidence against Oguntade as compelling and conclusive, leaving no room for doubt regarding the defendant’s guilt.
“The prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, and the court is convinced that the defendant is guilty of the offences filed against him by the EFCC,” Justice Taiwo declared.
The court subsequently sentenced Oguntade to five years imprisonment without the option of a fine.
