CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A man, Olamilekan Olatunji, has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Lagos for allegedly failing to produce a suspect for whom he reportedly stood as a surety in the sum of Thirteen Million Naira.
Olatunji was arraigned before Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu on a charge filed by the Commissioner of Police.
According to the charge sheet, the defendant and others said to be at large, on April 21, 2026, at about 5:50 p.m., at the Command Tactical Squad 1, Ikeja, in the Lagos Magisterial District, allegedly entered into a bond in the sum of N13,000,000.00 to produce one Ayodeji Oluwasegun, who was being investigated by the Police for alleged offences of conspiracy and stealing by fraudulent conversion.
The prosecution stated that the principal suspect, Ayodeji Oluwasegun, was granted administrative bail by the Police after Olatunji executed the N13 million surety bond, undertaking to produce him whenever needed until the case was finally disposed of.
However, Police sources alleged that after the suspect was released from custody and discovered that the evidence gathered against him by investigators was substantial and could lead to a jail term, he absconded and went into hiding, leaving the surety to face the consequences.
The charge alleged that Olatunji, who had undertaken to produce the suspect whenever required, failed to do so after the suspect disappeared.
The offence is said to be punishable under Section 132 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2015, while the bond itself was entered in accordance with Section 118 of the Criminal Justice Administration Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The case was presented by the prosecutor, SP Phillip Ademigbuji, for the Command Tactical Squad 1, Ikeja, through the Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Adefilelo Adetola. The complainant was listed as Linus Chinenye.
When the charge was read to him in court, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Following his plea, the defence counsel applied for bail on liberal terms, assuring the court that the defendant is a responsible resident and would be available to stand trial and would not interfere with Police investigation.
In her ruling, Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu granted bail to the defendant with two sureties.
The court ordered that the sureties must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government, to establish their credibility and traceability.
The Magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody at the Correctional Center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The case was adjourned for mention.
The incident has again brought to the fore the risks associated with standing as surety for suspects under Police investigation. Under Lagos criminal justice laws, a surety assumes full legal responsibility for the appearance of a suspect. If the suspect absconds, the surety can be prosecuted for failing to produce him and may also be liable to forfeit the bond sum.
Police authorities have consistently advised members of the public to be cautious and to fully understand the legal implications before agreeing to stand as surety for anyone, including friends and acquaintances, as the obligation remains binding until the case is finally concluded.
The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a Court of competent jurisdiction.