Ogun NNPP Hails DPP Take Over Of Case Involving Ex-Chairman Oginni, Two Officials
The Ogun State chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has hailed the takeover of a suit involving the party’s former Chairman in the State, Mr. Olaposi Oginni and two officials of the party by the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The commendation was made on Thursday, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the party in the State, Comrade Olowu Olayemi Omokehinde.
On Wednesday, Lawyers from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ogun State, informed the Abeokuta Magistrate Court, Isabo that they were taking over the prosecution of the case from the Police.
The court responded by saying that it was served a letter to the effect earlier from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) and as such granted them leave to take over the case and directed the Police prosecutor to hand over the case file to the State prosecutors.
The prosecution counsel, thereafter, asked the court for an adjournment as they needed time to study the case file and go through all the statements of the witnesses, and the matter was adjourned to November 30, 2023, for trial.
Speaking on Thursday, in the statement, Omokehinde hailed the decision by the DPP to take over the case, saying Justice delayed is Justice denied.
He explained that this would give room for thorough investigations into the matter so that justice would prevail.
According to him, “We are very much happy that the DPP has taken over the prosecution of this case. It is our firm belief that justice would be done and the truth of this case will be brought to light.”
Salient Times recalls that the crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) took a new twist when two leaders of the party were dragged to court.
The national headquarters of the party had expelled the former Chairman of the NNPP in Ogun, Olaposi Oginni, for anti-party activities and misappropriation of funds.
While Oginni’s expulsion was announced by the party, a faction loyal to the 2023 governorship candidate of the party, Comrade Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, went to perform a legitimate function at the party secretariat but the expelled Chairman locked up the place.
The Party leaders and other executives went to the police station to seek the assistance of security agents to open the party secretariat but Oginni reported the matter to the police as alleged stealing and malicious damage.
Consequently, the South West Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Kilamuwaye Badmus, and Ogun State party’s PRO, Olowu Olayemi Omokehinde, were dragged before an Abeokuta Magistrate’s Court sitting in Isabo.
They were arraigned for alleged malicious damage of valuables worth N575,000 and stealing of N7.5 million kept in the party’s secretariat and belonging to Ogun NNPP.
As the crisis rages, Kilamuwaye Badmus and the party in Ogun also accused Oginni of financial impropriety, fraud, money laundering and terrorism financing in parts of the country, which led to his arrest.
He was arrested in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, by detectives from the Force Headquarters Abuja, first detained in Lafenwa Police Station before he was moved to Abuja.
The arrest, it was learnt, followed a petition to the Inspector-General of Police by E. A Igwe & Co, Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on behalf of the NNPP national leadership.
The petition marked EAV/MISC/05/1992/2023 dated May 20, 2023, with the heading: ”Call for the arrest of the culprits and to subject them to the full wrath of the law”, expelled Oginni was accused of operating secret accounts and allegedly diverted party’s money into it as well as collecting money from governorship aspirants on behalf of NNPP and failing to remit same to party.
On the resumed hearing of the case of alleged stealing and malicious damage at the Magistrate Court, Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun state on Wednesday, Lawyers from the DPP announced the takeover of the suit, and the court granted them leave to take over the case and directed the Police prosecutor to hand over the case file to the State prosecutors.
