By Kayode Adeoti
A High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara state capital has on Tuesday fixed 8th January, 2018 to rule on the alleged corruption charges involving the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) nominee, Dr. Saadu Ayinla Ayinla Alanamu.
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, for allegedly collecting N5million bribe from a contractor.
He was however arraigned alongside the Executive Director of Namylas Nigeria Limited, Salman Sulaiman who was accused to have given out the bribe.
The duo pleaded not guilty to the 8-count charge of bribery and other related crimes read to them by the court.
During the last adjourned day, the Namylas’s counsel, Tunde Olomu had insisted that the statement sought to tender as exhibit by the ICPC should be rejected by the court given reason that it was obtained under duress.
Olomu submitted further that his client confessed to him that he was coerced, embarrassed and promised of favour during the interview.
In order to validate the true atmosphere, the statement was obtained, the trial judge however ruled for trial within trial.
The prosecution counsel, Sunny Ezeana told the court that the commission was not duty bound to harass anyone during interrogation, he further asked his witness, Oluyemi Oluwaseun from ICPC to give the description of interrogative room.
In his response, Oluwaseun said the room was illuminated and is air-conditioned, adding that the accused was given free hand to express himself during the interrogation.
He added that when the accused was summoned, he told the commission that he was asthmatic and would need fresh air while the interview will lasts. “He was allowed many times to take fresh air, he was not harassed nor coerced,” he added.
The judge has however ruled till 19 December 2019 for the continuation of the matter.
At the resumed trial on Tuesday, the parties submitted their papers on trial within trial while the judge fixed 8 January, 2018 for ruling.
Recalled that the commission through its counsel, 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 accused of bribing a government official when he paid N5million through a Guaranty Trust Bank account to Alanamu, as a reward for the award of contract to his company.
Alanamu, who shared his thought with Pilot Law after the court proceedings then vowed that he will make himself available in court even as the case last in order to prove his innocence.
He 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.”
