Alleged exam fraud: Court discharges Adeleke

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has discharged a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, over examination malpractices charges.

Recall that the erstwhile Senator – who represented Osun West – was arraigned on Ocwtober 31, 2019, on a four-count charge alongside his brother, Sikiru Adeleke, principal of the school, Aregbesola Mufutau, the registrar, Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo, and a teacher Dare Olutope over alleged impersonation.

The former lawmaker and his brother had been accused registering as students of Ojo-Aro community grammar school, Ojo-Aro, Osun State to enable them to sit for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination of June/July 2017.

Others indicted in the case were also accused of aiding commission of the alleged offence which according to the police, contravened the provisions of the Examination Malpractices Act Cap E15 LFN 2004.

But speaking at the commencement of trial on Friday, the prosecution counsel, Simon Lough, told the court that the police have decided to expunge Adeleke’s name from the charges and rearraign the other defendants.

According him, the trial has been stalled over the continued absence of the former governorship candidate in court – after he was granted leave to travel to the US for medical treatment on May 6, 2019 and mandated to return to the country on June 9.

The counsel to Ademola Adeleke, Alex Izinyon, had prayed the court to make a consequential order of discharging and acquitting his client.

The prosecution, however, said the appropriate order is for the court to make an order of discharge but not an acquittal.

Upholding the application, the judge Iyang Ekwo, made an order discharging Adeleke. The court consequently adjourned the matter to June 25 and 26 for the trial of other defendants.