The Court of Appeal, Akure on Friday, dismissed the appeal brought by Professor Richard Akindele challenging his trial and conviction by the Federal High Court Oshogbo for official corruption and abuse of office in respect of his demand for sexual gratification from Ms. Monica Osagie sometime in 2018.
It will be recalled that Prof Akindele had challenged his conviction on the grounds that the Federal High Court which tried and convicted him had no jurisdiction to do so.
Through his counsel, Barr Ijatuyi, the appellant argued that since the alleged offence bothered on sexual harassment in the workplace, it is only the National Industrial Court that had exclusive jurisdiction to try the case.
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Delivering judgment today in appeal no CA/AK/80c/2019 Prof Richard Akindele v FRN, the Court agreed with E.A. Shogunle, Esq for the respondent that the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court in criminal matters is not exclusive.
In dismissing the appeal, the Court further held that S. 26(2) of the ICPC Act 2000 grants jurisdiction to any superior court of record to try offences under the Act.
The court therefore affirmed the trial and conviction of the Appellant and dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.
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