Supreme Court Upholds ICPC Conviction in ₦68m Varsity Union Fraud Case
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a final legal victory at the Supreme Court, which affirmed the conviction and sentencing of three individuals involved in a ₦68 million fraud case linked to a staff union in Ogun State.
The apex court, in a unanimous judgment delivered on April 17, 2026, upheld earlier rulings of the Ogun State High Court and the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, effectively bringing to a close over a decade of litigation in Appeal No. SC/CR/592/2020.
The case involved Yusuf Temilade, Adeyemi Alaba Samuel, and Amuludun Tosin—non-academic staff of Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu—who served as executive members of the institution’s Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU). They held positions as chairman, secretary, and acting treasurer, respectively, and were responsible for managing union funds.
Investigations by the ICPC revealed that in 2011, the union secured a loan facility of about ₦68 million from a commercial bank for disbursement to approximately 120 staff members. The process required oversight and authorization from the institution’s provost and registrar.
However, the commission found that the defendants abused their offices by diverting funds, exceeding approved disbursement limits, and facilitating payments to non-staff members.
Following a petition, the ICPC charged the trio with conspiracy and abuse of office under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
They were arraigned before the Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta on a seven-count charge. On June 13, 2017, the trial court convicted them on five counts and sentenced them to five years’ imprisonment, with sentences running concurrently.
The defendants’ appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed on December 6, 2019, with the appellate court affirming the trial court’s decision.
Still dissatisfied, the appellant proceeded to the Supreme Court. After hearing arguments on January 22, 2026, the court dismissed the appeal, ruling it lacked merit.
In its judgment, the Supreme Court clarified the scope of “public officer” under the ICPC Act, stating that individuals cannot evade liability by acting under the cover of union or cooperative leadership. The court warned that accepting such a defence would enable public officers to exploit alternative platforms to misappropriate funds.
The ruling is expected to strengthen oversight of funds managed by unions and similar bodies within public institutions and reinforce the ICPC’s mandate to investigate and prosecute corruption involving such entities.
The commission described the judgment as a major boost to anti-corruption enforcement, noting that it removes ambiguity around the accountability of union executives who are public officers.
With the Supreme Court’s decision, all legal issues in the case have been conclusively resolved after approximately 11 years of litigation.
The ICPC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in public resource management, while commending its prosecution team, led by Deputy Director of Legal Services, Enosa Omoghibo, for securing the conviction.
By TimesNG