By Olawale Akinremi
A 75-year-old man, Peter Kalu, on Friday appeared before a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan for allegedly refusing to produce a suspected thief for whom he stood surety.
Kalu, who is facing a one-count charge of refusal to produce a suspect, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Consequently, the court’s President, Mrs S. M. Akintayo, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.
Akintayo added that one of the sureties must be a community leader, while the other must possess a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
She thereafter adjourned the matter until April 27 for hearing.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Ayeni, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence on Jan. 30 at the Orita-Challenge Police Station, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Ayeni further stated that Kalu presented himself as a surety for one John Kalu, who was being investigated for allegedly stealing and damaging some property.
He, however, told the court that the defendant refused to produce the suspect at the station on the appointed date.
According to Ayeni, the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 136 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)