By Kayode Adeoti
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) nominee, Dr. Saadu Ayinla Ayinla Alanamu has maintained his innocence on the corruption allegation leveled against him.
The former chairman of the Governing Council of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin was arraigned before Justice Mahmud Abdul Gafar of the Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, last Thursday for allegedly collecting N5million bribe from a contractor.
He was arraigned alongside the Executive Director of Namylas Nigeria Limited, Salman Sulaiman.
The duo pleaded not guilty to the 8-count charge of bribery and other related crimes read to them by the court.
The commission through its counsel, Barr Sunny Ezeana told the court that Alanamu allegedly received bribe through his bank account on 11th February, 2015 from Namylas Company as kickback for the award of a contract.
Sulaiman on his part was alleged of bribing a government official when he paid N5million through a Guarantee Trust Bank account to Alanamu, as reward for awarding a contract to his company.
Barr Tunde Olomu who was standing for the defendant told the court that his client should enjoy his fundamental human right premising his reason on the fact that he has not been pronounced guilty of the charges leveled against him.
He further stressed that when his client was invited by the ICPC, he honoured the invitationby coming to court adding that he is a man of integrity that will never jump bail. The application for bail was not objected by the prosecution.
In the ruling of the trial judge, he said the defendant should have approached the court with application for bail. He however granted them bail in the sum of N2m with two sureties in like sum each, and that one of the sureties for each of the accused must have landed property in Ilorin.
The matter was then adjourned to October 12, 2017 for pre-trial hearing in line with section 3 of the Kwara State High Court practice Direction, 2013, after which a new date for trial will be picked.
Alanamu who shared his thought with National Pilot after the court proceedings vowed to always make himself available in court to prove his innocence.
He said, “I cannot say anything now because the matter is in court but while the case lasts, the whole world will know what happened but I know up till tomorrow, I’m not guilty and I’m innocent, that is why I was in court.”
