The former Executive Secretary, Lagos State Scholarship Board, Stephen Oshinowo, has told a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja that he was coerced into admitting allegation of diversion of the sum of N127million to personal use by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Oshinowo gave this damning testimony during trial-within-trial over whether his extra judicial statement were voluntarily made to the EFCC when he was remanded in the custody.
He was arraigned on amended eight-count charges bordering on criminal conversion.
The EFCC said investigation conducted revealed that Osinowo, at various times, allegedly diverted to his personal use the said sum meant for the Board.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
At the resumption of trial, Oshinowo was led in evidence box by his counsel, Lawal Pedro, SAN, to narrate how his statement of admittance to fraud were obtained by the agency.
Oshinowo told Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo led court that a state Counsel Rasaki Adebayo had approached him while in detention urging him to cooperate with the investigation and resolve the matter amicably rather than going for trial in court.
He further explained that through the state Counsel an offer was made to him to restitute N30m and his freedom would be secured.
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An offer he said that made him to change his earlier statement and admitted to the offences, on the ground of his deteriorating health status while in detention.
“On November 29 a lawyer, Rasaki Adebayo approached me that he was contracted by my family to intervene over my matter and he advised me to play along with the EFCC in order for me to be set free.
Rasaki Adebayo told me that he has spoken with the EFCC and they have an understanding, urging me to cooperate with every steps.
Thereafter, I was made to write another Statements which I was guided on what to write down by the operatives” he narrated
When asked how he became aware that the said Rasak Adebayo was a state Counsel, Oshinowo stated that it was when he received an invitation from EFCC for an arraignment.
“An EFCC officers called me on phone that their boss will like to see me, an invitation I honoured and on getting to their office I was made to realise that I would be arraigned in court over the allegations
“The development which made me to reach out to Rasak Adebayo to know the reason behind the turn around of our agreement with EFCC and that he should join me in court to resolve the whole issues he created for me.
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“It was then Rasaki Adebayo told me that he can’t represent me in court because he is a state Counsel
“I was shocked to hear his submission, thereafter, I realised that I have been coerced to admit to an offence I know nothing on,” he said.
Under cross examination by EFCC Counsel, Usman Buhari, whether he verified from his family before contracted Rasaki Adebayo, for his legal representation at the commission, Oshinowo stated that he didn’t because he was in detention.
Buhari asked the defendant further: “did you at anytime asked your family members about engagement of the services of Rasaki Adebayo upon your released from EFCC coustody?’ He said ‘no’.
The EFCC Counsel also asked him if he instituted charges or write petition to the state against Rasaki Adebayo for his misconduct, he responded negative.
And when confronted with documentary evidence that his daughter was a beneficiary of the state scholarships scheme, he stated that the process was not influence but on merit.
Subsequently, Justice Taiwo adjourned till April 28 for adoption of written address for ruling on trial within trial
