THE police in Ogun State have arraigned the impeached chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area, Wale Adedayo, before a magistrate court sitting in the Isabbo area of Abeokuta on Tuesday.
Adedayo was arraigned before Justice A.K. Araba on two counts bordering on publication of unlawful publication and false allegation of fund diversion by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
The prosecutor, Adeyemi Olukoya, told the court that Adedayo committed offences which are contrary to and punishable under sections 59(1) and 375 of the criminal code laws of Ogun State, 2006.
The charge read, “That you Hon. Wale Adedayo m’ on the 27h August 2023 at Abeakuta in the Abeokuta Magisterial Districtrict did unlawfully publish a circular to the public, a letter addressed to the former Governor of Ogun State and Elder stateman, Aremo Olusegun Osoba ‘m’ in which you accused the present Governor of Ogun state; Prince Dapo Abiodun ‘m’ hijacking Local Government funds which you knew was false allegation and likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or to disturb the public pcace, knowing or having reason to believe that such statement is false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 59(1) of Criminal Code laws of Ogun State, 2006.
“That you Hon. Wale Adedayo ‘m’ on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did unlawfully publish a circular to the public, a letter addressed to the former Governor of Ogun State and Elder Stateman, Aremo Olusegun Osoba ‘m’ in which you accused the present Governor of Ogun State; Prince Dapa Abiodun ‘m’ hijacking Local Government fund (ten per cent (10%) of Internally Generated Revenue which the Constitution stipulate should go to the Local Governments) since May 2019 which you knew was a false allegation and likely to injure the reputation of the Governor by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule or to damage him in the discharge of his office and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code laws of Ogun State, 2006.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the counts.
In her judgment, Araba granted the defendant bail to the tune of N2m and required two “responsible and reliable sureties” residing within the court’s jurisdiction, possessing landed property with tax clearance.
The case has however been adjourned till October 20 for the next hearing while the defendant has been remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta.
Adedayo had on Monday announced on his Facebook page that he had been arrested by men of the Ogun state police force.
The post read, “Son of man is being taken to Ogun State Police CID at Eleweran, Abeokuta. They claim the State Government wrote a petition against me. If it is death, I follow the path of the Patriarchs. Ase di owo Olodumare!”
