The PDP’s Governorship Candidate in the Sept. 22 election in Osun State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, was on Wednesday arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja on allegation of examination malpractices.
Adeleke was arraigned alongside the Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Alhaji Aregbesola Muftau; the Registrar of the school, Mr Gbadamosi Ojo; and a teacher in the school, Mr Dare Samuel Olutope, as well as Sikiru Adeleke.
Adeleke and the five others were arraigned on a four-count charge of examination malpractice and forgery brought against them by the Police.
The Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Simon Lough, had on Sept. 19 filed the charge against Adeleke and the co-accused.
The police accused them of fraudulently registering Adeleke and another Sikiru Adeleke as students of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School in Ojo-Aro, Osun State, for the National Examination Council’s June/July 2017 Senior School Certificate Examination in February 2017.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/156/2018.
Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), Counsel to the first defendant (Ademola Adeleke), moved a bail application he filed on behalf of his client on Oct. 12.
He had prayed the court to admit his client to bail on personal recognition.
The prosecutor however did not object to the motion leaving Justice Edward Edward with no option than to grant the prayer.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prosecution’s disposition was predicated on the fact that Adeleke was already enjoying an administrative bail.
The judge however ordered the applicant to deposit his travel documents with the court.
He also ordered Adeleke to sign a bond that he would always appear in court to attend his trial.
The judge warned that the court would be at liberty to revoke the bail if Adeleke violated any of the bail terms.
Similarly, Ekwo admitted the second defendant (Sikiru Adeleke) and Muftau to bail in the sum of N2 million each, with one surety in like sum.
The court held that both defendants must not travel outside the court’s jurisdiction without permission.
Ekwo further directed the defendants to deposit original copies of title deeds of their landed property as well as their international passports.
NAN reports that the Registrar of the school and fourth defendant (Ojo), and teacher Olutope (fifth defendant) were not that lucky as the judge ordered that they be remanded in prison custody following their inability to hire legal representation.
The judge fixed the trial to commence between Dec. 17 and Dec. 19.