An octogenarian, Akinola Oloruntoba, and one Jimoh Makinde, have been arraigned before a Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) over alleged conspiracy and making false information against two lawyers and three others.
The duo was arraigned before Justice Yetunde Adesanya on a six-count charge brought against them by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The defendants’ offences, according to the prosecutor, Morufu A. Animashaun, a legal officer at Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, bordered on conspiracy and making false statement to the police.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecuting counsel told the court that the defendants were brought before the court after a bench warrant was issued against them.
Animashaun told the court that the defendants and others who are at large conspired among themselves to commit felony, to wit, make false statements to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.
He informed the court that the defendants made a petition to the IGP, which was discovered to be false after thorough investigation; and that the IGP directed that they should be prosecuted.
Those who the defendants gave false information against are: Kola Sodiya and Rotimi Fasogbon; Amole Habeeb; Raji Alabi and Adeboye Toye.
The defendants’ offences are contrary to the provision of Section 95 and 96 of the Criminal Law Ch.C17. Vol. 3, Law of Lagos State 2015 and punishable under Section 95 of the same Law, 2015.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge brought against them.
Following their plea, their counsel, Chijioke Samuel Igwe, prayed the court orally to grant the defendants bail in the most liberal terms. He, particularly, prayed the court to consider the age of the first defendant, whom he said is 80 years old.
The prosecutor told the court that he was not opposing the lawyer’s oral bail application.
Justice Adesanya, therefore, admitted them to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum. The judge ordered that the two sureties must be resident in Lagos and must bring evidence of tax payment.
She further ordered that the residence of the sureties must be verified by the registrar, and adjourned till May 2 and 6, for trial.
