The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld the conviction and sentencing of three officials of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) over their involvement in the misappropriation of about ₦68 million belonging to workers.
In a unanimous judgment in Appeal No. SC/CR/592/2020, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Yusuf Temilade, thereby affirming the earlier decisions of the Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta and the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division.
According to a statement by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) spokesperson, J. Okor Odey, Temilade was convicted alongside Adeyemi Alaba Samuel and Amuludun Tosin—who were serving as chairman, secretary, and acting treasurer of NASU at the Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu, Ogun State.
The officials were accused of abusing their positions while managing union funds. Investigations showed that in 2011, the union secured a loan of about ₦68 million from a commercial bank meant to be distributed to around 120 staff members. However, the funds were allegedly diverted, with unauthorized payments made and some non-staff individuals reportedly receiving money.
Following a petition, the ICPC charged them with conspiracy and abuse of office under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. They were arraigned on a seven-count charge and, after a full trial, convicted on June 13, 2017, and sentenced to five years imprisonment with concurrent terms.
Their appeals at the Court of Appeal were dismissed in 2019, and they subsequently approached the Supreme Court.
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In its final ruling delivered on April 17, 2026, after hearing the case in January, the Supreme Court held that the appeal lacked merit and upheld the earlier judgments.
The court further emphasized that individuals cannot avoid accountability under anti-corruption laws by acting through union or cooperative structures, warning that such a loophole would encourage corruption within public institutions.
