Temidayo Eseyin, an associate pastor of the Living Faith Church (also known as Winners’ Chapel) in Ilorin, was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Eseyin was charged with robbing Landmark University in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, of N19.3 million.
Eseyin, a lawyer and former member of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Ilorin Branch’s Disciplinary Committee, was brought before Justice Funsho Lawal of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin. He was charged with four counts of dishonest misappropriation of university funds.
According to the charges, Eseyin lied to his client while working as an attorney for Landmark University. Between 2014 until 2022, he was in charge of the “Old Midland Building,” which was owned by the university and was located on Emir’s/Obbo Road in Ilorin. Eseyin collected rent payments for eight years at this time but neglected to provide an account for the monies. He also allegedly attempted to sell the land without the university’s permission.
Count 3 of the allegation said that in the year 2021, within Ilorin, Kwara State, Eseyin dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N6,064,000, which constituted Landmark University’s rent payment for the Old Midland Building. This act is a violation of Section 308 of the Penal Code Law, and it is penalised under Section 309 of the same law.
Eseyin entered a not guilty plea to the charges levelled against him. Following his plea, Rashidat Alao, the EFCC’s counsel, asked the court to set a trial date and hold the defendant in custody till the trial.
However, Eseyin’s lawyer, Femi Makinde, submitted a bail application on his client’s behalf. The offender was granted bail in the amount of N10 million, with two sureties each giving N5 million. The judge stipulated that the sureties must own landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
The matter was postponed until a later date, which will be conveyed to the parties involved.
