Court dock Surety for assisting female suspect to escape

Jackie Opara

An Igbosere magistrate court yesterday docked 34 year old man Emmanuel Obijekwu, who aided  a female suspect, one Philomena Nwaonumah, to escape, after taking her bail at Zone 2 Police Station Onikan, Lagos,

 

The accused is facing a two count charge bordering on breach of under taking, conspiracy and intent to pervert justice, preferred against him by the police                                                                                                   

 

The prosecutor Supol Eshiet Eshiet, told the court that the accused who is a resident of 3, Ore-Ofe Street, Okokomaiko Lagos, on March 3, 2017, at about 2:30pm at Zone 2, Police station Onikan, Lagos, applied and took the bail of one Philomena Nwaonumah, who was involved in a case of conspiracy and fraudulent conversion, and he promised to produce her on the 16 of March 2017 and every other subsequent dates as her presence may be required by the police until the case against her was finally solved or forfeit the sum of N10million, to the Lagos State government.       

                                                                                   

He said that the accused breached the undertaking and failed to produce the suspect and he is being required to show cause, why he shouldn’t forfeit the said sum to the Lagos state government in accordance to section 132 of the criminal Justice administration law of Lagos state2011.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Eshiet also said that the accused with intent to pervert the cause of justice, failed to perform his responsibility as a surety by not producing Nwaonumah at Zone 2 Police Station, as required.                                                                                                                                              

The prosecutor said that the offence committed is punishable under sections 132 and 97 (1) of the criminal law of Lagos state  2011.                                                                                                                               

 

However the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge against him and Magistrate Folashade Botoki, granted him bail in the sum of N5million, with two sureties in like sum.                                              

She said that they must show evidence of tax payment to Lagos State government, affidavit of means and the addresses of the sureties verified by the court.