By Vera E. Abah with Agency report
AN Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday admitted Comrade Peter Onoja, former National Signing Trustee of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), to bail in the sum of N25 million.
Comrade Onoja, the leader of a faction of NUFBTE under the aegis of Redemption Group, that has over the past two years been in a running battle with the leadership Comrade Lateef Oyelekan over allegations of illegal tenure elongation, is standing trial on a six-count charge bordering on stealing.
RELATED STORIES:
EXCLUSIVE: EFCC Interrogates Food Union President, National Treasurer in Abuja Over Alleged Massive Fraud
Fraud in Food Union Over N2bn, Petitioners Say
INVESTIGATION: How Union Leaders Enable Casualisation in the Food Sector
Onoja was on December 1, 2022 remanded in prison on charges of stealing N72.5 million from the union’s purse, offences which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting Comrade Onoja alleged, contravene the provisions of Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The petition against Onoja, and two other former union members in the 7Up branch of NUFBTE, which the EFCC acted on, National Record gathered, was written by the leadership of Comrade Oyelekan.
RELATED STORIES:
INTERVIEW: Comrade Oyelekan Not Ready to Go, He Wants to Preside Over Union’s Businesses, Assets – Comrade Amechi
Tenure Extension: More Revelations as Comrade Oyelekan Threatens National Record
The petition against Onoja, National Record also gathered, followed an earlier petition by Onoja and two other members of the Redemption Group, submitted to EFCC national headquarters in Abuja, which had sometime last year interrogated Comrade Oyelekan and the National Treasurer of NUFBTE, Comrade Ahmed Yahaya.
The investigation of the finances of NUFBTE by operatives from EFCC headquarters, National Record also gathered, is still ongoing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Mojisola Dada granted Comrade Onoja bail with two sureties who must be gainfully employed and have evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
RELATED STORIES:
Why We Put off Delegates Conference Till Feb 2023 – Food Union
How Wabba Enabled Food Union Crisis, Video clips, Document Indicate
The Cancer of Tenure Elongation in the Nigeria Labour Movement; By Abadom Lawrence Amechi
Justice Mojisola, who also ordered Onoja to submit his international passport with the court’s Chief registrar, adjourned the matter to March 21 for commencement of trial.
Earlier, the defence counsel, Mr Michael Onasanya, in a 12-paragraph affidavit dated December 2, 2022, moved the bail application of the defendant praying the court to grant bail to his client on liberal terms. He argued that the defendant had not jumped administrative bail as he had willingly submitted himself for arraignment.
“We pray the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms because he never jumped any administration bail my lord,” he said.
RELATED STORIES:
Labour Ministry, NLC Behind the Tyranny Destroying Food Union – Comrade Abiodun
NUFBTE’s Nocturnal Conference and Comrade Wabba’s Politics
How Tenure Extension is Threatening to Tear Apart Food Union
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Spife Owede, in his 16-paragraph counter-affidavit, dated January 1, however, objected to the bail application, arguing that the court should refuse the bail application, which he said is at the discretion of the court.
He argued that if the court must grant the defendant bail, it must be under a strict condition that will make it difficult for him (defendant) to abscond the trial.
“In the instance that the court is inclined to grant bail, and finds merit in the application, we urge the court to impose stringent conditions that will make it practically impossible for the defendant to abscond,” he said.
