GHANA VARSITY ADMINSTRATOR REMANDED OVER N600M ‘FRAUD’ IN ILORIN

By Tope Sunday, Bureau Chief, North Central

An alleged illegal University Administrator, Dr Folaranmi Akinosun, has been remanded by an Ilorin Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly defrauding “unsuspecting innocent admission seeking students” to the tune of N600million.
Akinosun, 47, resides at No. 62 Mayfair Street, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The suspect, who was arrainged before Chief Magistrate K.A Yahaya, was charged with Criminal Conspiracy, Cheating, Forgery, Giving False Information with Intent to Mislead Public Servant and Obtaining Money Under False Pretence contrary to sections 97, 322, 364, 140 of Penal Code Law and Section 1 (3) of Advance fee fraud and other related offence Act CAP A6 Law of Federation of Nigeria 2004.
A First Information Report (FIR) dated May 4, 2016, said the matter was consequent upon a petition endorsed for discreet investigation by the office of Inspector General of Police in December, 2015.

The petition, according to the FIR, demanded for urgent police investigation into the operation of illegal degree awarding programme by Kinsey College of Education, Ilorin.
The police said in the course of investigation it was discovered that the petition was written by the suspect (Akinosun), using “fictitious name” of one Alhaji Raji Shefiru Olugbon.
The FIR also explained that it was further discovered that contrary to the allegations contained in the petition that Kinsey College of Education, Ilorin, was “not running any illegal degree awarding programme.”
Rather, the police said their investigation allegedly revealed that the suspect is operating an illegal degree awarding institution under the name Deltas University College Keta, Ghana through foreign links campus at Moro, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Through the ‘illegal’ university, the FIR alleged that Akinosun had successfully defrauded several innocent Nigerian students seeking admission into higher institution.
Among those allegedly defrauded is one Suleiman Kazeem Bolanta of No. 1 Salamatu Olatundun Street, Offa Road, GRA, Ilorin and others.
“Investigation further led to the recovery of several documents you (suspect) issued to the unsuspecting students which includes the following: several forged NYSC posting letters for 2012 Batch ‘C’ Corps member; several forged provisional offer of admission letters into various Departments in the fictitious Detals University College, Ghana; forged School Registration forms; identity cards; semesters’ results sheets; receipts and Clearance Forms; School Identity Cards and Students Examination Slip, all suspected to be forged,” the FIR alleged.

The ‘illegal’ institution was denied accreditation by the National Accreditation Board, Ministry of Education, CT.3256, Cantonments Accra, Ghana, the police further alleged.
“It was further discovered that you, Dr Folaranmi Akinosun, has defrauded unsuspecting innocent admission seeking students of about Six hundred million naira, while some of the students you lured to Ghana under the pretext of securing admission for them are now left stranded there,” the FIR equally alleged.

In his submission, the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Matthew Ologbonsaye, told the court that investigation into the matter has not been concluded.
Ologbonsaye opposed to the bail of accused, saying he would likely jump it and thereby tamper with investigation of the police.
But the Defence Counsel, Barrister N.A Sulyman, argued that his client is presumed innocent until proven guilty by court of competent jurisdiction.

Remanding the suspect would amount to pre-trial punishment, Sulyman further argued, “more so that the court does not have jurisdiction on one of the alleged offences.”
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate K.A Yahaya, held that considering the nature of the offences allegedly committed, the court is not convinced that the suspect would not jump bail if granted.
Yahaya also agreed with the prosecution that the offences allegedly committed are not ordinarily bailable and refused the oral bail application for the suspect.
He, therefore, ordered his remand at Federal Prison Custody, Oke-Kura, Ilorin, and subsequently adjourned the case till June 2, 2016, for further mention.