Olakunle Muhammed, 41, and Rasheed Bakare, 55 on Tuesday appeared in an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding an Osun lawmaker the sum of N38m.

The accused are facing three counts of conspiracy, theft, and fraud; while the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Moses Faremi, told the court that the two accused committed the offence between April and July at Oluajo area, Osogbo.

Faremi said the defendants conspired to defraud one Timothy Owoeye of N38m under the pretence to organise a special prayer to avert a revelation concerning death.

He said the offences contravened sections 516 and 418, punishable under sections 419, 383(1) and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.11 Laws of Osun, 2002.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the defense counsel, Mr. Ajibade Shittu, urged the court to grant his clients bail in the most liberal and affordable terms.

And though the prosecutor prayed the court to reject the bail application by the defence counsel, the Magistrate, Mr. Olusegun Ayilara, overruled, saying the offences were bailable.

The magistrate, therefore, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1m each and two sureties in like sum.

Ayilara said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction with evidence of tax payment and three passport-sized photographs attached, with an affidavit of means.

He also said that one of the sureties must be a civil servant on Grade Level 12, while the other should be a close relation of the accused, with land as a property.

He adjourned the case till November 9 for hearing. (NAN)

– Oct. 16, 2018 @ 15:05 GMT |