Date: 2016-05-14

A University Proprietor, Dr. Folarin Akinosun was recently ordered to be remanded in Ilorin prison by Ilorin Chief Magistrate Court over allegedly defrauding unsuspecting innocent students to the tune of #600million.

Akinosun aged 47 who resides at No 62, Mayfair street, Ile-Ife was charged for Criminal Conspiracy, cheating, forgery, giving false information with intent to mislead the public servant and also obtaining money under pretence which is contrary to sections 97, 322, 364, 140 of penal Code Law and section 1 (3) of advance fee fraud and other related offence Act CAP A6 Law of Federation of Nigeria 2004.

In a First Information Report(FIR) dated May 4, 2016 said that the matter was consequent upon a petition endorsed for discreet investigation by the office of Inspector General of Police in December,2015. According to FIR, the petition demanded for quick police investigation into the operation of illegal degree awarding programs by Kingsley College of Education, Ilorin.

The police averred that, in the course of investigation, it was discovered that the petition was written by the suspect(Akinosun) using "fictitious name" of one Alhaji Raji Shefiru Olugbogi.

The FIR explained further that, it was discovered that contrary to the allegations contained in the petition that the said school was not running any illegal degree awarding programs but the investigation conducted by the police revealed that the suspect is operating an illegal degree awarding institution under the nomenclature "Deltas University College, Keta, Ghana through Foreign Links Campus at Moro, Ile-Ife , Osun state.

It was discovered that, the illegal university, the FIR alleged that the suspect has as successfully defrauded innocent Nigerian seeking for admission into higher school.

One of the allegedly defrauded students who is the principal witness Sulaiman Kazeem Bolanta of No. 1, Salamatu Olatunde street, Offa Road, GRA Ilorin narrated his ordeal before the court. He said, the suspect has been operating fake school and that anytime they suspected illegality he quickly arrange for way out.

FIR investigation revealed that several documents issued to the unsuspecting students which include several forged of NYSC posting letters for 2012 Batch "C" Corps members, forged Provisional offer of admission letters to various "fictitious Deltals University College, Ghana; forged School Registration Forms, Identity Cards and students exams slip. The alleged illegal institution was according to FIR denied accreditation by the National Accreditation Board, Ministry of Education, Accra, Ghana.

"It was discovered that, you Folaranmi Akinosun has defrauded the unsuspecting students seeking for admission into your school to the tune of six hundred million naira by which some of the students were lured to Ghana by you under pretext of securing admission for them and are now left stranded." FIR further alleged.

Giving his submission, the Police prosecutor, Inspector Mathew Ologbonsaye told the court that investigation is still on. Olugbonsaye who opposed to the bail of the accused person noted that if granted the bail, the accused may likely jump it and thereby obstruct their investigation which is still on.

However, the counsel to the accused person, Barrister N A Sulyman opposed to the submission of the police prosecutor, saying accused person is innocent until proven otherwise. Delivering his ruling, Magistrate K.A Yahaya agreed with the prosecution that the offences allegedly committed are not ordinarily bailable.

He therefore ordered the suspect to be remanded at Oke-Kura Prison custody in ilorin. The case was adjourned till June, 2 2016 for further hearing.