A former Director-General of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, Professor Benjamin Adefemi Ogunbodede, was on Tuesday sentenced to 40 years in prison by the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, over a case involving the alleged misappropriation and diversion of N177 million.
Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel handed down the sentence after finding Ogunbodede guilty of multiple counts arising from the 17-count charge brought against him and three others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ogunbodede was prosecuted alongside Zacheaus Tejumola, a former chief accountant of the institute, Adenose Clement and Jalekun Omotowoju over allegations bordering on conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of funds belonging to IAR&T.
The case followed a petition submitted by the Academic Staff Union of the institute to the EFCC. Among other allegations, the petition questioned the handling of funds said to have been earmarked for staff hazard allowances and agricultural activities.
According to the prosecution’s case, Ogunbodede was alleged to have claimed that N115 million was used to pay hazard allowance to members of staff in December 2013.
He was also alleged to have claimed that N15 million was spent on harvesting crops, while investigators reportedly found that about N800,000 was actually spent on the activity.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned, leading to a trial during which the prosecution presented 15 witnesses and tendered documentary evidence before the court.
Ten other defendants in the matter had earlier pleaded guilty and entered into plea bargain arrangements with the EFCC in 2016.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Ayo-Emmanuel held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the defendants on the counts established against them.
The judge sentenced Ogunbodede and Tejumola to 40 years’ imprisonment each, without an option of fine, while Adenose was sentenced to four years in prison. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
Counsel to Ogunbodede, Tunde Olupona, had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that his client lacked administrative experience in managing such a sensitive position.
Similarly, counsel to the other defendants, I.A. Salawu and Yetunde Adegboye, appealed for leniency on behalf of their clients.
Counsel to the EFCC, Nkwuruka Amana, however, urged the court to impose sentences in accordance with the law.
Following the judgment, Olupona said the defence team was studying the decision and would determine whether to pursue an appeal.
The case, which had been in court for several years, centred on allegations concerning the management and diversion of funds at the research institute, culminating in the conviction of the former director-general and the other defendants.
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