BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A 40-year-old man, Tope Adekeye and a woman, Nike Salako, aged 38, have been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State for allegedly borrowing the sum of N310,000 and refusing to offset it.
The police further accused Adekeye of attempting to escape from its custody after arrest.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Adeoye Kayode, informed the court that the duo had borrowed the money from one Awofesobi Samson in June 2022 and promised to pay back in December of same year.
However, Kayode said the two defendants reneged on the promise when it was time to offset their debt. The police docked them on a four-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.
“That you Adekeye Tope and Salako Nike on 20th day of June, 2022 at Oke-Onitea Area, Osogbo, Osun State in the Osogbo Magisterial District did fraudulently obtain the sum of Three Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (N310,000.00) only from one Awofesobi Samson with pretence to pay back by December, 2022, the representation you know to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“You did steal the sum of Three Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (N310,000:00) only, property of one Awofesobi Samson and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code CAP 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“That you Adekeye Tope on 4th day of June, 2023 at Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo in the aforementioned Magisterial District did attempt to escape from the lawful custody of Dugbe Police Station and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 135 of the Criminal Code CAP 34 VOL. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002,” the charge read in part.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the offences. Their counsels, Najite Okobe and T. D. Bamidele,applied for their bail and urged the court to make it liberal.
Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara granted Adekeye bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in the same amount, adding that the sureties must be civil servants and house owners. The court admitted Salako to bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety in the same amount.
Ayilara adjourned the matter till July 20, 2023 for mention.
