Former Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Anthony Elujoba, was on Tuesday remanded in Ilesha Prison in Osun State after the dismissal of his bail application.
Justice David Oladimeji of the Federal High Court in Ede, Osun State, ruled that the 69-year-old be remanded till July 19 when the case will be brought for hearing.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on July 7 arraigned Elujoba on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and using position for gratification.
He was subsequently remanded in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
Elujoba is standing trial alongside the university bursar, Mrs Josephine, over N1.4 billion distributed to workers as productivity bonus.
Workers of the university see the trial as “victimisation”, which led to the declaration of two lecture-free days as protest by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU).
Addressing journalists during a protest at the university campus on Monday, ASUU OAU caretaker committee chairman, Comrade Niyi Sunmonu, said “following the agitation of workers for payment of their legitimate allowances and the discovery of a floating huge sum of university funds (illegally kept from TSA), Professor Elujoba approved the payment of N350,000 to each senior and junior staff, respectively.
“This payment and his other financial actions were given covering approval by the governing council by the Governing Council as empowered. We believe that Professor Elujoba did not embezzle or mismanage any university fund.”
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) of OAU on Tuesday locked down the court gate as the ruling sending Elujoba and Akeredolu to prison detention was passed.
They demanded that the judge should withdraw his ruling, and authorise the EFCC to keep the former vice chancellor in its custody
Students of the institution fear that the latest disturbances may further affect their academic calendar.
