A 32-year-old man, Rufia Lateef, who allegedly stood as a surety for his friend charged with N10 million fraud and could not produce him for trial, was on Tuesday brought before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
Lateef, whose residential address was not provided, is standing trial on two counts bordering on perverting the course of justice.
The prosecutor, ASP Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 23, 2023, at 2.00 p.m., at Ejigbo, Lagos.
He said that the defendant stood as a surety for one Sanni Olalekan, who was charged with obtaining the sum of N10 million under false pretences.
According to him, the defendant had promised to produce Olalekan to the court on July 6, 2023, and every other date his presence was needed, but failed to do so.
Aigbokhan said that the defendant did not also produce Olalekan on March 14 when the case came up for trial.
The prosecutor, therefore, requested that the defendant should show cause why the bail bond of N2 million he entered into should not be forfeited to the Lagos State Government.
He said that the offences contravened Section 97 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015 and Section 132 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), 2011.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Miss K. A. Ariyo, granted him bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the sureties should be gainfully employed and should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Ariyo adjourned the case until July 12 for mention. (NAN)
