Daniel docked, pleads not guilty to 16 counts charge

Posted by admin EFCC Politics, Headlines, Ogun, State News Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

ABEOKUTA—OSTENSIBLY jolted by the reality of his arraignment, the immediate past governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, yesterday, arrived High Court 4 around 9;10 am and headed straight to the toilet within the court premises.

Arriving in a Toyota Hiace, marked Abuja BR737 BWR flanked by stern-looking EFCC men and his wife, Daniel clad in a cream Agbada with black cap and eye glasses entered the court hall at 9:12 am and held a secret meeting with his counsel; Taiwo Osipintan, SAN; Taiwo Oyetibo, SAN; and Yemi Oke for ten minutes.

He was docked at 9:17 am at the court presided over by Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje for 16 count charges, ranging from stealing to failure to declare assets and fraudulent conversion of public fund through trustees.

DANIEL DOCKED: Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel in court yesterday.

Reading the case file no AB/EFCC/02/2011, between Daniel and Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was accused of stealing, contrary to section 390(4) of the Criminal Code Law cap 29, laws of Ogun State, 1978. He was also accused of conversion of public fund contrary to sec.(434) Ogun State Criminal Code, cap 29, laws of Ogun State 1978 as well as failure to declare assets contrary to sec.27(3b) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.

During the proceeding, EFCC was represented by Rotimi Jacobs who was supported by Olutayo Olukotun, while the defendant was represented by Taiwo Osipitan, SAN; Taiwo Oyetibo, SAN; Yemi Oke, and Deji Eniseyin. EFCC’s lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that a-304 page document has been filed, but apologised for serving the defendant’s counsel late.

Confirming the receipt of the document, Osipitan pleaded for a 30-minute stand-down to enable him study the document and also have a word with his client which was granted by the court. After the 30 minutes break, all the 16 count charges were read to Daniel and he pleaded not guilty to all. Oyetibo who took over from Osipitan told the court that they have filed a bail application dated October 12, 2011 and had served the prosecution counsel.

The Prosecution counsel who confirmed receiving the bail application, added that a written document was attached to the application, urging the court to give him time to study it and file counter affidavit. He, however, suggested that the case be adjourned till Friday, October 14, for the hearing of the bail application.

Counsel to the accused person pleaded that his client be remanded in the EFCC custody because he had been there since he was arrested last week Thursday. Counsel to the EFCC in his reaction to Daniel’s counsel’s plea, observed that, there was a publication, accusing the EFCC of maltreating the accused, describing as irony, saying that the EFCC was embittered with the publication. He further expressed surprise that the EFCC which was said to have maltreated Daniel has later become a bride they were admiring by pleading to be remanded in its custody.

A hot argument ensued between both parties over the publication as Daniel’s counsel also accused the EFCC spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi of convicting their client in the media, urging the court to call him to order. Oyetibo who said that Babafemi has been going around with false information that Daniel stole N58 billion which according to him, based on the charges brought before the court was lesser than the acclaimed amount. While giving his ruling, Justice Mabekoje granted the plea of Daniel’s counsel to remand his client in EFCC custody and adjourned the case till Friday.

The EFCC counsel said. “My lord sir, looking at the scenario outside the court today which prevented my lord from hearing most of what we are saying and we are also not getting what my lord has been saying. I want to say that this is not a political game, this is a criminal case holding in a serious court. We should not be celebrating criminality. I want to appeal that you talk to the accused person not to be hiring supporters to the court.”

Reacting to the accusation, Oyetibo defended his client of allegedly hiring the supporters, saying that what happened was as a result of love the people have for their ex-governor.

He said: “My lord, you need to know that, my client has been in EFCC custody in Abuja since Thursday when he was arrested, how would he now arrange for these people?.If someone is loved, what is bad in showing that he is loved. It is the EFCC that always makes such arrangement. Two wrongs don’t make a right. I am a prosecutor for EFCC, I know how they do it.” the prosecutor claimed, while saying that he would not condone disturbance of court proceeding.

Daniel, Amosun supporters clash as police arrest Daniel’s supporter

Meantime, the atmosphere was charged yesterday at Ogun State high court, Isabo, Abeokuta, immediately, ex-governor Gbenga Daniel was brought by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the court over corruption charges.

The students who were believed to have been sponsored by the incumbent government led by Ibikunle Amosun, had come in seven buses, drawn from various tertiary institutions across the state, under the umbrella body of National Association of Nigerian Students (Zone D) and the Joint Campus Committee hurled abusive language at Daniel as he arrived the court.

Daniel’s supporters led by former Secretary to the Local Government, (SLG) in Abeokuta South, Nurudeen Olaleye, threatened to crush the students for daring to insult their political leader. The two parties threw caution into the wind and disturbed the peace of the court with their cacophonous shouts which rented the air as the proceedings began.

The students carried placards with various inscriptions which include “Gbenga Daniel Must be jailed”, “OGD is a Killer”, “Daniel has empowered cultists” among others while, the supporters of Daniel reciprocated by praising their leader through various songs among which were; OGD, OGD is the man, the first Governor in South West to declare his assets, among other songs.

Despite the heavy presence and the threat of the stern looking security operatives the students claimed that the former governor had mortgaged their future on the altar of insatiable desire for money. They distributed leaflets condemning the tuition fees under Daniel administration as well as various deductions from the state workers’ salaries and other alleged deductions that were not remitted to the appropriate quarters, calling for the prosecution of the embattled governor.

Speaking with our correspondent, the National Public Relations Officer of NANS Zone D, Olusegun Clement, a Business Admin student of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu Ode said the students condemned the astronomical rise in the tuition fees which Daniel introduced during his administration. Corroborating his colleague, the State Chairman of the association,, Mustapha Adewale, a student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta said the entire student body came to tell the world that Daniel nearly ruined their future during the eight years of his administration in the state.

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In a counter mission, Daniel’s supporters also displayed banners praising their leader amidst praise songs as they demanded that Daniel should be freed with immediate effect.

Defending his leader, Olaleye said Daniel remains an elder statesman who must not be made to face unnecessary persecution. He said: “We are here because we have respect for him. He has served the state diligently and we believe he has done nothing to warrant all these harassments. That is why we are here; we are for solidarity support.” He added that justice must be done, but “all we know is that OGD is the type of person that cannot steal a penny of the state government.”

The security operatives who had cordoned the roads leading to the state High Court for about 500 meters radius in a bid to curtail the looming violence but anti and pro Daniel protesters yet found their ways through to the court arena. The police later arrested Olaleye for igniting a minor fracas which ensued between Daniel and the students .

Students finally clashed with Daniel’s supporters

After the court proceeding, pandemonium almost broke out when students drawn from various tertiary institutions in the state chanting thief which provoked handful supporters of the embattled ex-governor leading to a clash. Daniel’s supporters chased the students, who came in seven buses to the premises of the court, as police were shooting sporadically in the air to disperse the angry mob.wp_posts