Osun lecturer in trouble for standing surety for unknown person


Justice Peter Lifu of a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun state, has ordered the remand of a lecturer, Engr. Emmanuel Tayo Owolabi, for failure to produce the defendant he stood surety for. 


Owolabi stood surety for one Oladele Ezekiel who has allegedly refused to stand his trial after securing bail. 


The prosecutor, a principal state counsel, Bankole Awoyemi, informed the court that the defendant in the case has evaded arrest since he was given bail. 


He said efforts to arrest him and the second surety have been futile as the duo of the defendant and the surety have been running away from home. 


He told the court that the only surety in court, Owolabi, was attending court because he is a civil servant. 


When the court asked Owolabi about his relation with the defendant, he said they are not related by blood. 


“I know the defendant through the Kate Bar Kazeem Badmus who asked me to stand surety for him. 


The court noted that Owolabi has been promising to produce the defendant and failed on four adjournment to produce him. 


Justice Lifu, thereby ordered the remand of Owolabi in Ile-Ife correctional centre and adjourned the matter to March 26 for his formal arraignment. 


The judge promised to release him if the defendant appear in court on the adjourned date. 


The judge also ordered the prosecutor to work with the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) and produce the defendant in court.  End