Economics and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday re-arraigned former Governor Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel for allegations of stealing, bribery and corruption and fraudulent conversion of government properties, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.
The 38 counts, including stealing of public funds, bribery, fraudulent conversion of public properties and false declaration of assets, were read to the accused, who pleaded not guilty to all.
According to the charge sheet, the former governor stole N211.3m between 2004 and May 29, 2011 and also converted government’s land in various parts of the state into his family use.
While alleging that the house of the former governor in Sagamu (Asoloduro Court) was built on government’s land, the EFCC added that Daniel built his Conference Hotel, Ijebu Ode, on land meant for judges’ quarters.
EFCC also said the Western Publishing Company allegedly owned by Daniel was built on government land along Lagos- Ibadan Expressway.
The commission said the stealing and bribery were done through companies the former governor either owned or had interests in.
The companies, according to EFCC, include Crystal Laurel, Conference Hotel, GLD Consults, Silver Springs investments, Millennium Parks, Master line company among others.
It also said Daniel also failed to declare his assets and interests in GLD Consults Limited, Millennium Parks Limited, and Silver Springs Limited and Conference Hotels Limited.
The EFCC argued that the offences were contrary to and punishable under Sections 439, 393, 434, of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.
As well as Section 27 (b) (3) and Section 10 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Act No 5, of 2000.
The defence team, headed by Tayo Oyetibo, informed the court that the team had filed an application for bail dated April 10, adding that the application was supported by 27 paragraph affidavit.
He also informed the court that his team had a received a counter-affidavit from EFCC opposing to their (Defence) bail application.
Oyetibo added that a reply as well as written address had been filed to the counter-affidavit in the defense prayer for bail of the former governor.
He dismissed all the grounds on which EFCC was opposing the bail application, describing it as gross abuse of court process and an infringement of fundamental human rights.
“The purpose of bail is to make sure that the accused person turn up for prosecution, we submit with all sense of responsibility that the accused person has the right to bail,” he argued.
Counsel for the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, said he would rely on 22-paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to by One Danladi Yatah, in opposing the bail application.
He argued that the death of Apagun Olumide Oluwole, whom according to him, was to witness against the former governor was another reason for opposing the bail application.
He said, “After Apagun had volunteered useful information that will help us in our prosecution, he came to our office on a Friday to ask for the release of his passport to enable him to travel to the UK for business meeting.”
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