An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos will on September 14, decide the fate of a man, Adeniran Rasaki Ademola, who stood as surety for his son on N1,200,000 bail but failed to produce him for police investigation.
Ademola, 76, was arraigned on Tuesday by the Zone 2 Police Division, Onikan, Lagos, before Mr. S. K. Matepo.
He pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and perversion of justice following which Magistrate Matepo granted him bail with two sureties and adjourned for allocutus and sentencing.
A police source said Adeniran’s son, Adeniran Lukman, got a contract worth over N3, 000,000 from a firm in Lagos to supply charcoal.
The contract fell through and Lukman was arrested by the Zone 2 Police Division and granted N1.2m bail and one surety, which was fulfilled by his father.
He allegedly subsequently disappeared following which the police arrested Ademola and arraigned him on a two-count charge of conspiracy and perversion of justice.
Prosecuting Inspector Eshiet Eshiet told the court that the son and others at large committed the offences on March 23, 2015 at Ikeja.
“The defendant stood as surety for Adeniran Lukman in the sum of N1.2m at ‘X’ Squad Unit, Lagos State Police Command in respect of a case of obtaining money by false pretence, stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.
“The defendant prevented Adeniran from appearing at X Squad Unit for prosecution with intent to defeat and frustrate the course of justice,” Eshiet said.
The offences, he added, were punishable under Sections 409 and 97(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.