Court rejects foreigner as surety

A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikorodu, Lagos has rejected a Beninese national, Jimoh Ameida, as surety for his brother, Lamina Ameida, in a case involving the damage of two Mercedes-Benz trucks.

Lamina, a 30-year-old employee of Blue Sky Pure Water Company, Igbogbo, was first arraigned in June for allegedly pouring salt into the engines of both trucks belonging to one Emily Nwokeduko, and valued at N2.3million each.

He was granted bail and presented Jimoh and one Christiana Ishola, as his sureties.

Police prosecutor, Mrs. Abosede Adegesin, however, told the court that there was reason to believe that the brothers were from Cotonou, and Jimoh, who gave his surname as Hammed, had provided a questionable address.

She added that the bond provided by Jimoh was unsigned while that given by Christiana had an address different from the one on her utility bill.

Mrs. Abosede, who substituted the former charge against Lamina for a fresh three-count charge, urged the court to reject the two as sureties for the accused because it would be impossible to trace them if they absconded.

The defendant’s counsel, Mr. Ilesa Obatayo, argued that there was no evidence that Jimoh was not a Nigerian and prayed the court to allow Lamina to enjoy the bail previously granted.

The presiding magistrate, Mr O. O. Olatunji, upheld the prosecution’s argument and granted the accused fresh bail of N500, 000 and two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned to September 3.