Can Gbenga Daniel win this Battle??

Gbenga Daniel

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday re -arraigned former Governor Gbenga Daniel before Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje of the state High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State.


Daniel is facing a 38- count charge bordering on breach of trust, fraudulent conversion of public landed property to personal use, failure to declare his assets truthfully and stealing over N211m.
According to the EFCC, the said N211m was allegedly stolen by the accused in several tranches while serving as governor of the state.
Daniel was first arraigned before Mabekoje last October 12  and after pleading not guilty to the charges filed by the EFCC, the judge  adjourned the case and ordered that the former governor be remanded in the commission’s custody.
The anti - graft agency later added 27 more charges against Daniel, bringing the total to 43, but he was however granted N500m bail bond with sureties in like sum.
After five months of standing trial before Justice Mabekoje during which the court heard arguments and counter- arguments of both counsel, the court discharged Daniel, citing fundamental errors in the manner the charges were filed against the accused by EFCC.
According to the judge, the prosecution should have obtained consent to prosecute the accused from the Chief Justice of Ogun State first before initiating criminal proceedings against him.
But on Monday, EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, who appeared with two other counsel- Adebisi Adeniyi and Tayo Olukotun, told the court that Daniel was in court for "re -arraignment."
Appearing for Daniel are 16- man legal team led by the quartet of Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), Otunba Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN), Mrs. Titi Akinlanwon and former Attorney - General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State, Mr. Akin Osibajo.