Saheed Popoola, civil servant docked over 2012 Hajj fund

A member representing Balogun/Ojomu constituency at the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Saheed Popoola and a staffer of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Oniro Idunu were arraigned before an Ilorin Magistrate Court on Tuesday for alleged Breach of Trust and Cheating. The suspects were charged with Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Breach of Trust and Cheating contrary to sections 97, 312 and 322 of the Penal Code Law.

The Police First Information Report (FIR) dated June 23, a copy obtained by National Pilot, said the matter was consequent upon a report brought to 'A' Division Police State, Ilorin by one Garuba Umoru Jika of G23, Gambari Road, Ita Ajia, Ilorin. The complainant, according to the FIR, alleged that in September 2012, he paid N780,000 to the first suspect (Alhaji Oniro Idunu) for processing of 2012 Hajj operation, but the accused person in conjunction with others deceived the victim alongside others by air lifting them to Cotonou in Benin Republic. The Benin Republic air lifting was done to "avoid chaos and exposure of your fraudulent act during Hajj lifting exercise, the complainant alleged. The Police said when the first suspect was arrested and interrogated on June 22, 2015, Oniro Idunu confessed the receipt of N750,000 meant for the complainant's in-law, one Sanni Umoru, adding that he gave N555,000 to the then Offa Local Government Hajj Coordinator, Mohammed Akanbi. Quoting the first suspect's alleged confession, the FIR said the Hajj Coordinator handed over the said amount to one Alhaji Saheed Popoola, the then Chairman of Offa Local Government and presently a member of the State House of Assembly. "While you, Alhaji Saheed Popoola was invited to the station and interrogated, it was discovered that you, Alhaji Saheed Popoola and Alhaji Mohammed Akanbi together with Abubakar Oniro Idunu conspired and converted the total sum of N750,000 to your personal use," the FIR further, alleged. However, Popoola and Oniro Idunu pleaded not guilty to the charges before the court. In his submission, the Police Prosecutor, Yusuf Nasir said investigation on the matter was in progress in an attempt to arrest other culprits involved in the crime. The prosecutor failed to oppose the bail of the suspects, leaving it to "unfettered discretion of the court." Nasir told the court that the first suspect had been enjoying police bail without being abused, while the second suspect "voluntarily submitted himself for trial." In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Mohammed Ibrahim admitted the suspects to bail in the sum of N100,000 and one surety each in like sum. Mohammed hinged the bail grant on the testimony of the police that the suspects have been enjoying bail without its abuse. He adjourned the matter till July 15 for further mention.