The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has arraigned Professor Richard I. Akindele, a former lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-ife, Osun State before Justice Maureen A. Onyetenu of Federal High Court, sitting in Osogbo, Osun State for allegedly demanding sex for the exchange of marks from Miss Monica Osagie, a female post graduate student.
Professor Akindele, who was arraigned on a four count charge by ICPC at the court allegedly, committed the offence in September 2017 as a lecturer at the institution.
According to the first count of the charge read in court, the suspect corruptly demanded for sexual benefits for himself from Miss Osagie, who was then a post graduate student with the promise to upgrade her marks from fail to pass, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section 8 (1) a and 2 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The second charge also stated that, Professor Akindele allegedly solicited for sexual benefit for himself from the victim for a favour to be given to her, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The ex-lecturer was further charged for concealing evidence with intent by removing some parts of the WhatsApp conversation between him and the victim, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 15 (1 and 2) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The fourth charge stated that, during investigation by ICPC, Professor Akindele claimed that he was born in April 1961 while the record in his personal file obtained from OAU revealed that he was born in April 1959, thereby committing falsification of age, an offence contrary to Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The accused person pleaded not guilty to all the charges and his counsel, Mr. Francis Wale Omotosho, thereafter made an oral application for bail on behalf of his client, but the counsel to ICPC, Mr. Kehinde Adetoye urged that the court should ensure bail conditions were met before granting bail to the accused person.
Rather than grant bail, Justice Onyetenu adjourned the trial to 27th of November 2018 for definite hearing and said that Professor Akindele should be remanded in prison until that date.