Surety turns accused for allegedly aiding suspect’s escape

A man, Abdul-Rasheed Abayomi, 37, who allegedly aided the escape of a suspect, Olanrenwaju Joshua, for whom he stood as surety in a case of alleged conspiracy and obtaining of money under false pretense, was yesterday granted bail by a Badagry Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

Abayomi, whose address was unknown, is facing a two-count charge bordering on perversion of course of justice and failure to produce suspect.

The Magistrate, Mr. Lazarus Hotepo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000, with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until October 24, this year, for mention.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Prosecutor, Clement Okuoimose, a Police Inspector, told the court that the accused committed the offences on August 29 at Area K Police Command in Morogbo, Badagry, Lagos.

He said Abayomi stood surety for Joshua and promised to produce the suspects on August 30 and other subsequent dates he would be needed at the station, but failed to do so.

He also said Abayomi made an undertaken to forfeit N800, 000 bail bond while standing surety for the two suspects if he failed to produce them, adding that he failed to produce Joshua at the Police station, thereby aiding his escape.

Okuoimose said the accused should show cause why he should not forfeit the said N800, 000 bail bond to the Lagos State Government.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 107 and 97 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.