The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions has arraigned a former Bursar of the Yaba College of Technology, Mr. Olugbenga Ibirogba, for allegedly leaking classified information on the college to media houses including Sahara News, Osun Defender, Premium Times and Global News Magazine in 2013.
Ibirogba was arraigned on eight counts alongside Charles Akharayi for allegedly disclosing YABATECH’s classified information on February 6, 2013 as part of several threat letters, which they allegedly circulated against the person of the rector of the college, Dr. Margaret Ladipo.
A report by YABATECH, dated November 29, 2016, indicated that the defendants were arraigned before Justice A.A. Akintoye of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, after their preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction was dismissed.
The defendants were charged with the offence of “provoking breach of peace by offensive publication, contrary to Section 57 (1)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011,” by circulating several threat letters against the person of Ladipo.
They were also arraigned for “disclosing official secret” of YABATECH which was published by Sahara News on February 25, 2014; Osun Defender on July 8, 2014; Premium Times on May 6, 2013; and in the Vol. 6, No. 13 of Global News published on July 14, 2014.
By leaking the college’s secret, the prosecution said the defendants violated Section 59 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
In another count, the defendants were accused of removing documents from the Bursary Department of YABATECH, “which were quoted in mails sent to media houses and to the Rector of the Yaba College of Technology, one Mrs. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo,” contrary to Section 60 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
According to YABATECH’s report, Ibirogba and Akharayi pleaded not guilty to the eight counts pressed against them.
Justice Akintoye ordered that they be remanded in the prison custody till December 5, 2016 when their bail applications would be heard.