Court Orders Arrest of Ondo APC Chieftain Who Stood Surety for Suspect

By Oluniyi Akintunde, Akure

An Akure Chief Magistrate court has ordered the arrest of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr Ademola Ariyo for allegedly failing to produce an accused person he stood surety for before the court.

Ariyo had stood surety for one Bimbo Akinsehinwa who is standing trial for alleged fraud and conspiracy.

Apart from Akinsehinwa, other persons standing trial for the same charges include : Aderonke Gbadamosi, Akinsira Usiola, Kofoworola James and Ganiyat Itunu.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them. They were released on bail during their arraignment.

Akinsehinwa together with his surety had allegedly failed to show up for trial at the court while the trial lasted in 2016.

In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Mr. Ayodeji Akinsanya cut Akinsehinwa’s bail, saying “ Bimbo Akinsehinwa has jumped bail and the court has issued a bench warrant for his arrest together with one Captain Ademola Ariyo (rtd) who stood as his surety whom were both at large.”

Akinsanya He declared Ariyo wanted for standing surety for the accused person and for his absence from court sittings. He ordered the court police to paste his picture in front of his house and the court premises.

The magistrate thereafter adjourned the case till February 21, 2017 for continuation of the trial.

The accused persons who were brought before the court by the police in 2016 were facing eight-count charge which include : felony, obtaining money by false, fraud, forging a deed of transfer of land document, stealing and given false testimony in an affidavit singed by them.

In the charge sheet, the accused person allegedly committed the offence at Valentino area of Ondo town, Ondo State in 2016.

The offence committed was said to be contrary to and punishable under Sections 516(1), 419, 390(9), 467, 484, 171 and 125A(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.