Court discharges Adeleke over charges of examination ‘malpractice’

A federal high court in Abuja has discharged Ademola Adeleke, a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun state, over charges of examination malpractice.

Adeleke who was a former senator representing Osun west was arraigned on October 31, 2019, on a four-count charge alongside Sikiru Adeleke, his brother, Aregbesola Mufutau, principal of the school, Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo, the registrar, and Dare Olutope, a teacher.

Adeleke and his brother were accused of impersonation, both 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, while the other defendants were accused of aiding commission of the alleged offence.

According to the police, the offences contravened the provisions of the Examination Malpractices Act Cap E15 LFN 2004.

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

Lough explained that Adeleke’s continuous absence has continued to stall the trial.

The court had on May 6, 2019, granted leave to the former senator to travel to the United States for medical treatment. The judge ordered him to return to the country on June 9. Since then, he has been absent from trial.

The other four defendants pleaded not guilty to the amended charge.

Alex Izinyon, counsel to Ademola Adeleke, urged 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.

Ruling on the application, Iyang Ekwo, the judge, made an order discharging Adeleke.

The matter has been adjourned to June 25 and 26 for the trial of other defendants.