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UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS: Lecturer Docked For Racketeering
By Henry Ojelu, Lagos, Nigeria
A senior lecturer at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Mr. Olalekan
Abiodun, has been arrested and arraigned before a Yaba Magistrate's Court
for allegedly collecting over N1 million from prospective students under the
pretence of procuring admission for them. The 40-year-old lecturer from the
Department of Engineering, was alleged to have collected huge sum of money
from seven intending students between January and February 2006.
Luck, however, ran out on him when the candidates reported him to the police
when their names did not appear in the schoolís admission list. Count one
of the five-count charge levelled against him reads: ìThat you, Olakekan
Abiodun, and others now at large between January and March 2006 in the Lagos
magisterial district obtained N130,000 under false pretence from Ugbekile
Chuks Friday, claiming that you can use your position as a senior lecturer
from the Engineering Department at the University of Lagos to admit the
complainant.
The offence is punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C.42,
Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State. The second charge reads: ìThat you, Olalekan
Abiodun, and others now at large on 16 February, 2006 in front of the Senate
building of the University of Lagos, obtained and fraudulently converted
into personal use N430,000 belonging to Victor Ekwueme, Oyediran Olatunji,
Ekwenuya Iloba, Itaodu Marvel and Odun Ndudi under the pretence of issuing
them admission letters into the University of Lagos.
Mr. Abiodun was also alleged to have obtained N510,000 from Uche Ray Emeka
of 25, Yakubu Street, Ikosi, Ketu, under the pretence of procuring a shop
for him inside the university premises. When the charges were read to him,
he pleaded not guilty to all the allegations and was granted bail in the sum
of N200,000 with two sureties by the presiding magistrate , Mr. O. A.
Okunuga. The case has been adjourned to 16 October for trial. |
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