Henry Ojelu

Mrs Idowu Oluronke Rosulu : jailed 10 years

A Lagos High Court judge, Justice Lateef Lawal- Akapo today sentenced a Court Registrar, Oluronke Rosulu, to 10 years imprisonment for aiding Fred Ajudua to defraud former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi of $330,000.

Justice Lawal Akapo sentenced Rosulu to 10 years imprisonment each on the two count charges of conspiracy and obtaining of money by false pretence levelled against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Rosulu is standing trial over allegation that she aided Fred Ajudua to defraud General Ishaya Bamaiyi while he was in Kirikiri Prisons.

She was alleged to have visited the Kirikiri prisons on three occasion in 2004 and collected $300,000 from Bamaiyi under the pretence that the money would be used to secure legal services from Afe Babalola chambers for him.

The court registrar who is supposed to retire from the Lagos Judiciary early next year was initially arraigned along with Ajudua and other persons still at large but opted for a separate trial.

During her trial, Rosulu denied all the allegations against her and insisted that she never visited the prisons as alleged by the EFCC or collected any money. She also denied ever meeting Ajudua or General Bamaiyi

Delivering judgment however, Justice Lawal- Akapo held that the EFCC was able to prove the case of conspiracy and obtaining of money by false pretence against Rosulu.

The judge held that despite denying any contact or meeting with Ajudua in Kirikiri prisons, evidence presented by the EFCC showed that Rosulu and Ajudua were co-conspirators.

According to the judge, a piece of evidence, a petition written by Ajudua found in Rosulu’s house during a search by the EFCC, showed that both were working together.

On the allegation that she never collected any money from Bamaiyi while in prison, the judge held that not being able to show where she was on the dates she was purported to have visited the prisons and collected the money, he had no option but to believe the evidence of the EFCC witnesses.

Justice Lawal Akapo subsequently held that the EFCC has proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt. After listening to the plea of leniency by Rosulu’s lawyer, Bar Bamidele Ogundele, the judge sentenced her to 10 years imprisonment.

The judge noted that it was unfortunate that Rosulu who was supposed to promote the good image of the judiciary, turn around to dent it.