The Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, in Ifedore Local Government area of Ondo State, Professor Kunle Oloyede, has continued to remain in prison over his inability to meet his bail conditions.

Oloyede has been in Olokuta Prison since 10 days now, over his inability to meet the bail conditions given by an Akure Chief Magistrate Court, presided over by Magistrate Ayodeji Akinsanya. Oloyede is being tried over alleged fraudulent awards of contract.

The conditions included submission of his international traveling documents, two sureties, who should be directors in the State Civil Service and the payment of $250,000 in cash.

Yesterday, Oloyede’s wife Laide and the lawyer to the family, Mr. Olusola Oke, alleged that the bail conditions, which included payment of $250,000 in cash up front, could not be met because of the economic situation in the country.

The lawyer and Laide said the bail conditions gave an impression that the professor had been convicted, even when trial was yet to commence.

The family said: “The case for the prosecution was presented by the Attorney- General of Ondo State, Mr. Remi Olatubora, which we have been advised by various senior legal sources is unusual. Oloyede was arraigned and charged at Akure Magistrate with a bail able offence and the bail hearing was held on 17 January 2017.

It is cleared that the whole judicial system was rigged when bail condition was set in US dollars at an amount of $250,000USD to be paid in cash upfront! “Oloyede has a right to file a variation for this set bail; however, repeated attempts to present the variation request in court were frustrated, such that he remained in custody for over a week.

No one knows for how long Oloyede will remain in custody as the prosecution, with significant involvement from the Attorney General of Ondo State, has advised the court that they will not have a lawyer available to present for a hearing until January 27, 2017, which is the date that the trial is due to commence.

The prosecution is intentionally obstructing the hearing of the variation in order to keep Oloyede locked up in custody, until the trial, and is therefore denying his basic human right to a fair judicial process.”

However, Olatubora said he has right under Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution to prosecute case in any courts in the land. (Nigerian Telegraph)

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