TWO suspects facing trial at the Federal High Court, Akure over the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration infractions, are to remain in prison custody because of their inability to perfect bail conditions given to them by the Court about five months ago.
The first defendant, out of the three suspects facing trial in the case, Peter Okereke, however, regained freedom on Monday May 13, as he was the only one who was able to fulfill the stringent bail conditions and was in court on Monday.
Recall that the three suspects were first arraigned at the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, and took their pleas on 23rd May, 2023 when the charge sheet was first read to them.
While delivering his judgement on bail application by counsel to the defendants, Honourable Justice T.O. Adegoke, on 7th December 2023, ruled that for each of the defendants, one surety each in the sum of one million bond each must be provided and the sureties must have a company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and do his or her business within the Akure metropolis.
The sureties, the Judge also said must show evidence of tax clearance for the last three years and must deposit the original copies of their company registration certificates with the Registrar of the Court while the sum of N1 million by each of the defendants must also be deposited in the account to be provided by the Court Registrar.
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The sureties and each of the defendants, according to Justice Adegoke, must also write an undertaking that the defendants would attend their trial till the conclusion of the case and that the Prosecuting Counsel and the Court Registrar must know the residence of the sureties.
However, on Monday, only one out of the three suspects facing trial over the 2023 UTME registration infractions, was able to perfect his bail conditions as the two other suspects remain in custody following their inability to present the requisite sureties and other requirements.
One of the suspects, Peter Okereke, who is the first defendant in the case was the only one, who was able to perfect his bail conditions to regain freedom.
The 2nd defendant, Akinwale Timilehin, and the 3rd defendant, Mustapha Olayinka Idris, were still being held at the Olokuta Correctional Centre for their failure to perfect their bail conditions.
