2 men in court for defrauding Osun lawmaker
By Joshua Oladipo
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 N38 million.
The accused are facing a three-count on 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 N38 million, under the pretense to organise a special prayer to avert a revelation concerning death.
He said the offence contravened Sections 516, 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 while the defense counsel, Mr Ajibade Shittu, urged the court to grant his clients bail in the most liberal and affordable terms.
The prosecutor however, prayed the court to reject the bail application by the defence counsel but the Magistrate, Mr Olusegun Ayilara, overruled saying the offence was bailable.
The magistrate therefore, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each and two sureties in the 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 closed relation of the accused with land as a property and adjourned the case till Nov. 9 for hearing.
