Police Arraign Akwa Ibom LG Chairman over Alleged Age Falsification

*Gets N10m bail

The Nigeria Police Force Thursday arraigned the Chairman of Ini Local Government of Akwa-Ibom State, Israel Idiasin, over allegations bordering on age falsification.

Idiasin was arraigned on a two-count charge before Justice before Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

He however pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge and was admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

A former Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Uwemedimo Nwoko (SAN), who led the defendant’s team of lawyers in arguing the bail application, urged the court to release the LG boss on bail, pending the determination of the case.

The counsel to the police, B. N. Ezeala, who did not oppose the bail, said it is for the court to decide.

In a short ruling, Justice Nwite admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

The court held that the sureties must be reasonable citizens that are resident within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

As part of the conditions attached to the bail, the sureties must swear an affidavit of means and also deposit their two recent passport photographs.

The defendant, in addition, must deposit his travel documents with the Chief Registrar of the court.

While adjourning the matter to April 4 for trial, the court held that the defendant be remanded in a Correctional Centre pending the perfection of all the bail conditions.

The prosecution, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/31/2022, alleged that the defendant forged his date of birth through a sworn affidavit, contrary to the one sworn by his late father, which he used to contest and win the local government chairmanship position.

He was also accused of fabricating false evidence through affidavits, which he deposed to, that he had never been employed in any public office, whereas he was employed by the NIPOST.