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Court refuses suspected fake Army General bail

By Yetunde Ayobami Ojo
26 April 2022   |   4:02 am
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, dismissed the bail application filed by a self-professed Army General, Bolarinwa Abiodun, in a fraud suit brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, dismissed the bail application filed by a self-professed Army General, Bolarinwa Abiodun,  in a fraud suit brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
 
Aside from refusing the bail application, the court granted accelerated hearing of the case.
 
While ruling on the bail application, Justice Taiwo upheld the prosecution’s argument in opposition to the defendant bail.
 
The judge said that, “the defendant did not challenge the averment of the counter-affidavit and the further affidavit of the prosecution.
 
“I am therefore in agreement with the prosecution that the defendant constitutes a flight risk. Though the offences against the defendant are bailable offences, I am inclined to refuse the application for bail and order accelerated hearing.
 


“Thus the application for bail is refused and the defendant is to remain in prison custody, and accelerated hearing is hereby ordered.”
 
EFCC had on April 11, 2022 arraigned Abiodun on a 13-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery of documents, and possession of documents containing false pretence involving an alleged N266,500,000
 
EFCC alleged that Abiodun, sometime in May 2020  forged LETTER OF APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF dated May 20, 2020 and purported the said document to have emanated from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
  
His offences contravenes section 1 (3), 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act  No 14 of 2006.
 
He pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
 
His counsel, Kayode Lawal while moving his bail application on April 14 prayed the court to grant his client bail pending the hearing and determination of this case.
 
He had argued that the law provides that all accused persons are presumed innocent until found guilty.
 
But  EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, opposed the bail application, submitting that the situation warrants his lordship to exercise judicial discretion against the defendant.
 
He argued that the defendant did not counter the point raised by the prosecution.

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