CHIEF Lukman Ajose, former Lagos Island Local Government Chairman who challenged his conviction by a Lagos High Court will soon know his fate as the Court of Appeal, Lagos, has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by him. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment by Justice Joseph O.K. Oyewole for fraudulently enriching himself by converting money belonging to the council.
The convict who was the chairman of the council under Alliance for Democracy, AD, was found guilty by a Lagos High Court for defrauding the council to the tune of N4.4 million, claiming to have attended several seminars and training outside Lagos, which was later found to be false. Ajose’s counsel, Folasade Bankole had earlier withdrawn his application for bail and in the alternative opted for accelerated hearing.
She urged the court to grant the appeal and set aside judgment of the lower court, adding that his client had spent half of his jail term in prison.
Counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) was not in court but court records showed that they were aware that the appeal would be heard.
The former council boss, who defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from AD, was arraigned in 2007 by Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, on a six-count charge of “using his office to confer corrupt advantage contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 ”.
He was found guilty of four out of the six-count charge preferred against him, as it was proved by the prosecution beyond reasonable doubt that he collected various sums of money at different times claiming to be monies spent on sundry issues, hotel and air transportation to Abuja.
In his judgment, Justice Oyewole declared “I have considered the allocutus of the learned defence counsel as well as the entire circumstances of this case. Corruption has been broadly identified as a major impediment to the growth of our nation and has grown to monstrous proportion in that wise, any proven incidence therefore must not be treated with kid gloves if the monster is to be tamed.
“In the circumstances therefore, the defendant is hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment without an option of fine in each of count 1, 2, 5, and 6 respectively. The sentenced shall run concurrently.”
Ajose, who claimed to have traveled to Abuja and some other parts of the country for seminars, was convicted after convincing evidences showed that he never attended such seminars and training programmes and never participated in any.