A 58-year-old civil servant, Feshitan Ademola, was arraigned before a Dutse Magistrates’ Court in Abuja on Thursday over the disappearance of a suspect he stood surety for.
The police charged Ademola, who resides in Lugbe, Abuja, with aiding and abetting and screening an offender. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution counsel, Babajide Olanipekun, told the court that Ademola voluntarily went to the Area Police Command Headquarters in Kubwa on Feb. 11 and stood as surety for Irene Frank of Dawaki, Abuja.
He said Frank was released to Ademola while being investigated for alleged criminal breach of trust, cheating and issuing a dud cheque involving N20 million.
According to the prosecutor, Frank had confessed to the alleged offences before Ademola entered into a bond to produce her whenever required by the police.
Olanipekun said Ademola agreed to forfeit N20 million to the Federal Government if he failed to produce Frank as required, but all efforts to reach her had been unsuccessful.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 85 and 167 of the Penal Code Law.
The Senior Magistrate, Evelyn Dara, granted Ademola bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum.
Dara ordered that the surety must have a reliable means of identification and reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
The court adjourned the case until Sept. 22 for hearing.
