£45,000 fraud: Court summons prison official over suspect’s disappearance

 

A Federal High Court in Ibadan yesterday summoned an official of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), J. O. Oyaleke, over his failure to produce in court one Otuyalo Oluwadamilola, a defendant being prosecuted by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Oluwadamilola was remanded by the court for his alleged involvement in £45,000 cybercrime fraud.

A statement by the EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, stated that Oyaleke, a duty Superintendent of the Correction (DSC), was served with the summons on February 25 to testify on the whereabouts of the defendant.

DSC Oyaleke, who was attached to Justice Uche Agomoh’s court, failed to produce the defendant on December 2 when the trial was scheduled to begin.

When asked by the court about the whereabouts of the defendant, he said the defendant was among the 401 inmates who fled Abolongo Correctional facility on October 22, 2021 during an attack by some bandits.

He further told the court that the Oyo State office of the Nigerian Correctional Service was working with relevant agencies to ensure the re-arrest of the fleeing defendant.

Justice Agomoh adjourned the matter till June 29.