By Kayode Adeoti
The Kwara state High Court sitting in Ilorin will today resume suit alleging the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)’s nominee, Dr. Saadu Ayinla Ayinla Alanamu of collecting N5million bribe.
Recall that the former chairman of the Governing Council of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin was arraigned alongside the Executive Director of Namylas Nigeria Limited, Salman Sulaiman before Justice Mahmud Abdul Gafar on 21st September, 2017.
At the resumed trial at the last adjourned date, the duo had pleaded not guilty to the 8-count charge of bribery and other related crimes read to them by the court.
The commission through it counsel, Barrister Sunny Ezeana had 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 a reward for the award of contract to his company.
Barrister Tunde Olomu who stood for the defendant told the court that his client should enjoy his fundamental human right, premising his reason on the fact he has not been pronounced guilty of the charges levelled against him.
He further stressed that when his client was invited by the ICPC, he honoured the invitation by coming to court, adding that he is a man of integrity that would not jump bail. The application for bail was not however objected to by the prosecutor.
In the ruling of the trial judge, he said the defendant was supposed to 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 them must have a landed property in Ilorin.
The matter was then adjourned till today, 12th October, 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.
Meanwhile, Alanamu who shared his thought with this medium after the court proceedings vowed to always make himself available in court even as the case last in order to prove his innocence.
He had said, “I cannot say anything now because the matter is in court but while the case last, 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.”
