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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Chief Magistrate Court 1 sitting at Iwo Road, Ibadan, has convicted Adeleke Ronke Mary, a staff of Oyo State Ministry of Lands, of fraud.
Magistrate Taiwo Oladiran sentenced Adeleke to one year in prison on Friday, after she was dragged before the court by the state’s Ministry of Justice.
Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) secured the conviction of Adeleke after it investigated a petition filed against her by a victim from whom she “dubiously collected the sum of N600,000.”
A statement made available to newsmen on Friday by OYACA Chairman, Justice Eni Esan, said Adeleke was investigated by the agency and found culpable before her case file was handed over the Ministry of Justice for prosecution.
“The Chief Magistrate Court 1, Iwo Road, Ibadan, Presided over by Magistrate Taiwo Oladiran (CM1) convicted today, Adeleke Ronke Mary, a civil servant of the Ministry of Lands for official corruption under the Section 22 of the OYACA Law and the court sentenced her to a year term of imprisonment.
“Also, the court ordered the convict to refund the sum of N600,000 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) collected from the victim within one month.
“Adeleke Ronke Mary has since been handed over to the officers of the Nigerian Correctional Services,” the statement said.
Esan added that OYACA in its commitment towards zero tolerance for corruption within the public service is ready to rid the state of all forms of corrupt practices and ensure that justice is served in all cases of corruption.