Sex-for-marks: Court remands OAU professor, Akindele in prison
A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, the Osun state capital, has ordered the remand of Professor Richard Akindele of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-ife, for allegedly demanding sex from his student, Monica Osagie.
Akindele was arraigned before Justice Maurine Onyetenu by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, on a four-count charge on Monday.
The ICPC alleged that the accused unlawfully demanded sex from his student and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section A (1)(2) of the corrupt practices and other related offences.
The charge cheat reads thus: “That you Professor Richard Iyiola Akindele on 16 September, 2018, did unlawfully solicit for sex from your student Monica Osagie, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 of the corrupt practices and other related offences, 2000.”
The embattled former lecturer was also accused to have unlawfully had WhatsApp conversation with Osagie sometimes in June 2018, and thereby committed an offence contrary to the law.
He however pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge levelled against him by the ICPC.
His Counsel, Mr. F. Omotosho, thereafter pleaded with the court to grant his client bail, arguing that he is a known personality who cannot jump bail.
The prosecutor, who is a senior legal officer with the ICPC, Mr. Kehinde Adetoye, opposed the oral bail application of the counsel, stating that the accused has refused to appear at the commission since he was granted administrative bail.
He said, “we have been making efforts since 5th of November to effect the service of the process. They have refused to come back and they were not reachable on mobile phone. We were surprised to see them here today. We just served them the process.”
Justice Onyetenu thereby 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 till November 27 for hearing.
