ICPC Wins as S’Court Ends 11-Year N68m Varsity Union Fraud Case

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a final victory at the Supreme Court over a N68 million fraud involving a university union.

The judgment brings to a close an 11-year legal battle that traversed three courts.

The apex court, in a unanimous decision, upheld earlier rulings by the Ogun State High Court and the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, affirming the conviction of the defendants and dismissing the appeal for lacking merit.

The case involved Mr. Yusuf Temilade, alongside Adeyemi Alaba Samuel and Amuludun Tosin, who were officials of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) at Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Omu-Ijebu, Ogun State. The trio served as chairman, secretary and acting treasurer of the union.

Investigations by the ICPC showed that in 2011, the union secured a loan facility of about N68 million from a commercial bank for disbursement to staff members. However, the defendants were found to have diverted funds, exceeded approved withdrawal limits and facilitated payments to non-staff.

Following a petition, the anti-graft agency arraigned them on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and abuse of office.

Delivering judgment in June 2017, the trial court convicted the defendants on several counts and sentenced them to five years imprisonment each, with the terms to run concurrently. The Court of Appeal later upheld the verdict in December 2019.

Still dissatisfied, the defendants approached the Supreme Court. But in its final ruling delivered on April 17, 2026, the apex court dismissed the appeal and affirmed the earlier decisions.

In its pronouncement, the court clarified that public officers cannot escape liability for corruption by operating under union platforms.

The court held that accepting such a defence “would effectively legitimise corrupt practices by public officers who exploit alternative platforms to siphon funds meant for collective benefit.”

Reacting to the judgment, the ICPC in a state on Monday described the outcome as a major boost to accountability in public institutions.

“This judgment has far-reaching implications. It removes any ambiguity regarding the liability of union executives who are public officers,” the commission said.

It added that the ruling reinforces its mandate to investigate and prosecute corruption cases involving funds managed by unions, cooperatives and similar bodies.

“The decision also serves as a strong deterrent against abuse of entrusted positions in both formal public service and affiliated organisations,” the ICPC stated.

With the Supreme Court’s verdict, all legal disputes arising from the case have now been conclusively resolved, ending more than a decade of courtroom battles.