The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned three officials of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital over allegations of forgery and deceit.

The three staff members – Fatuki Adebayo Paul, Babalola Idris Adebayo, and Afolayan David Ayodele – were arraigned before Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

The ICPC, in a charge number: HAD/02ICPC/2024, arraigned the teaching hospital officials on a six-count charge bordering on forgery of a document contrary to and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C28 LFN 2004, and knowingly and corruptly giving a document with false information with intent to deceive the principal, contrary and punishable under Section 17(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

All three defendants, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

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The counsel for the defendants, Rotimi Adabembe and Busayo Sule, separately prayed to the court to grant their clients bail on liberal terms, having entered the not guilty plea.

The ICPC counsel, Kehinde Adetoye, did not oppose the bail applications filed.

Presiding judge Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, thereafter, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N2 million and two sureties in like sum, one of whom must hold a directorial position within the Ekiti State Government.

Justice Ogunmoye added that the evidence of the sureties’ residence within the jurisdiction must be confirmed.

The judge, therefore, adjourned the case to October 15, 2024, for hearing.

The Star