ICPC frees Oyo ex-officials on bail

SIX former commissioners from Oyo State arrested on Tuesday by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) have been released on bail and told to appear before the Commission next week Tuesday.

A source at the ICPC informed The Guardian that the former Commissioners were released on Tuesday night after meeting the Commission’s bail conditions, including landed property in Abuja, surety and N5 million.

The source also said one of the former Commissioners had to return to the Commission yesterday for some clarifications.

“That was the former Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Majekodunmi Aborode. But he has been granted bail and will be here with the others next week,” he said.

Resident Consultant to the Commission on Media, Folu Olamiti, also confirmed the bail granted to the ex commissioners but declined to speak further on the matter.

The six are currently being investigated by the ICPC over a case of alleged N8.5 billion fraud. They were invited and arrested for interrogation by the Commission on Tuesday.

The former Commissioners were in charge of the state’s ministries of Environment and Water Resources, Finance, Works and Transport, Education, Agriculture and Rural development, Commerce and Cooperation.  Apart from Aborode, the rest are Adebayo Bankole, Alhaji Raheem Oyedemi, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, Kunle Ishola and Kola Balogun.