Court Detains Oba-Elect For Alleged Certificate Forgery

An Oba-elect, Babalola Babatunde has been detained in police custody on the order of the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital for alleged certificate forgery.

Babatunde, the Oba-Elect of Araromi-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti Babatunde was arraigned on two- a count charge bordering on forgery.

The Oba-elect was docked for allegedly forging a certificate from the University of Ibadan and presented the same to the University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti for a job in 2008.

He was also alleged to have forged a discharge certificate from the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) and presented same to the University Teaching Hospital for a job.

The suspect however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to the 48-year-old monarch-elect.

The charge read “That you Babalola Babatunde on or about the 15th day of January 2008 at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make and uttered a forged University of Ibadan Result which you knew to be false and with the intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine by the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti to offer you a job and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

“That you Batalola Babatunde on or about the 15th day of January 2008 at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make and uttered a forged National Youth Service Corps Certificate which you knew to be false and with the intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine by the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti to offer you a job and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1[2](c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.”

The counsel to the defendant, Mr Paul Attah told the court that he had filed an application on notice for bail and asked the court to give the application hearing.

However, the prosecution counsel, Itunun Osobu told the court that he was yet to read the issues raised by the defendant’s lawyer in his reply to the counter-affidavit he filed.

Osobu told the court that he would be presenting two witnesses before the court to prove the charges of forgery against the suspect.

The defendant’s counsel prayed the court to release the Oba-Elect on bail, promising that he would not jump bail.

Justice Owoeye asked if the defendant had any surety and Attah answered that the defendant has a brother who is a businessman based in Akure, Ondo State capital.

He also told the court that the defendant’s in-law was in court.
According to Attah, the defendant’s in-law has a property in Akure.

However, Attah prayed the court to present the defendant to the nearest police station pending the adjournment date.

In his ruling, Justice Owoeye ordered that the defendant be detained in the office of Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 17, Akure, while he adjourned the hearing till Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Source:;New Telegraph