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Justice Nathaniel Ayo - Emmanuel of the
Federal High Court , Ibadan, on Tuesday
sentenced Prof . Benjamin
Ogbunbodede , a former Director of the
Institute of Agricultural Research and
Training (IAR& T), Ibadan, to 40 years
imprisonment for corruptly enriching
himself to the tune of N177 million .
Zacheus Tejumola , a former Chief
Accountant of the institute, was also
sentenced to 40 years imprisonment
while Clement Adenose , another staff ,
bagged four years in jail.
In a judgment which lasted over two
hours, Ayo - Emmanuel said that he
convicted the trio based on the
overwhelming evidence against them .
The judge, however, said that he had no
reason to convict them on count 13 due
to want of evidence.
“ There is no ambiguity in the facts
tendered by the prosecution that the
three convicts conspired, converted and
stole the hazard allowance of N 177
million belonging to the staff of IAR& T.
“ Ogunbodede and Tejumola are
therefore, sentenced to 40 years
imprisonment each for their roles for
counts 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ,
14 , 15 and 16 .
“ Adenose is sentenced to four years in
prison . The sentences will, however , run
concurrently ,” Ayo - Emmanuel stated .
Earlier, Mr Tunde Olupona , the counsel
to Ogunbodede , had pleaded with the
court to temper justice with mercy in
sentencing his client .
He argued that his client lacked
administrative experience in running
such a sensitive position.
Similarly, Mr I. A Salawu and Mrs
Yetunde Adegboye , counsel to Tejumola
and Adenose , pleaded with the court to
show mercy to their clients , citing
various portions of the constitution.
However , Mr Nkwuruka Amana, the
counsel to the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission , urged the court to
sentence the convicts in accordance
with the stipulation of the law .
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN )
recalls that Ogunbodede, Tejumola and
Adenose along with 10 others had since
2014 been standing trial over a 16 -
count charge bordering on conspiracy ,
unlawful conversion and stealing of
N177 million hazard allowance
belonging to the staff of the institute.
Ten of the defendants had earlier
pleaded guilty and opted for plea
bargain arrangement .
Nine out of the 10 previously convicted
were different companies which
Ogunbodede, Tejumola and Adenose
indirectly used to siphon the N177
million .
Olupona , who spoke after the judgment ,
told NAN that he and his other
colleagues were still studying the
judgment and would in due course take
appropriate decision on whether to
appeal or not .
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