Sex-for-Mark Scandal: Court remand OAU professor in prison
A Federal High Court, sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, on Monday ordered the remand of Professor Richard Akindele, of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, for allegedly demanding s3x from one of his student, Monica Osagie.
The accused was docked by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 4-count charge before the court.
The ICPC alleged that professor on September 16, 2017, unlawfully demanded s3x from his student and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section A (1)(2) of the corrupt practices and other related offences.
According to the charge sheet, “the defendant corruptly asked for s3xual benefits for himself from Monica Osagie for a favour that would be thereafter sworn to her by upgrading her academic record from fail to pass, thereby committing an offense contrary to and punishable under section 8 (1)a and 2 of the corrupt practices and other related offences act of 2000.
ALSO READ: Alleged N38m theft: Court grants Osun Commissioner, businessman bail
“He solicited for s3xual benefits from the victim on the 16th of September, contrary to and punishable under section 18b for a favour to be given to him.
“He deliberately concealed evidence, with intent, removing parts of the WhatsApp conversation, between himself and the victim, contrary to section 15 (1) and (2) of the act.
“The accused falsified his age contrary to section 25. He claimed to have been born in April 1961 but his official documents revealed he was born in April 1959.
However, the accused Professor who was a lecturer in the Department of Management and Accounting pleaded not guilty to the four count charges levelled against him by the ICPC.
But, his counsel, Barrister F Omotosho, urged the court to grant his client bail, assuring that he is a known professor, who would not jump bail.
The prosecutor counsel, who is a Senior legal officer with the ICPC, Mr Kehinde Adetoye, opposed the oral bail application of the council, arguing that the accused had failed to appear at the commission since he was granted administrative bail.
He said, “we have been making efforts since 5th of November to affect the service of the process. They have refused to come back and they were not reachable on a mobile phone. We were surprised to see them here today. We just served them the process.
Justice Onyetenu, however, directed counsel to the accused to file a formal application for the bail of his client.
She ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter to November 27 for definite hearing.