UTME: Suspects fail bail conditions on registration infractions, 5 months after

By KEMI KASUMU

Only one out of the three suspects facing trial at the Federal High Court, Akure, over the 2023 UTME registration infractions, was able to perfect his bail conditions as the two other suspects remain in custody following their inability to present the requisite sureties and other requirements.

The suspects were first arraigned and took their pleas on 23rd May, 2023 when the charge sheet was first read to them.

In his judgement, Honourable Justice T.O. Adegoke, on 7th December, 2023, ruled that for each of the defendants, one surety each in the sum of one million bond each must be provided and the sureties must have a company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) and do his or her business within the Akure metropolis.

The sureties, the Judge also ruled, must show evidence of tax clearance for the last three years and must deposit the original copies of their company registration certificates with the Registrar of the Court while the sum of one million by each of the  defendants must also be deposited in the account to be provided by the Court Registrar.

The sureties and each of the defendants, according to Justice Adegoke, must also write an undertaking that the defendants would attend their trial till the conclusion of the case and finally, the Prosecuting Counsel and the Court Registrar must know the residence of the sureties.

The first defendant, Peter Okereke, was the only one, who was able to perfect his bail conditions and was in court on Monday, 13th May, 2024, the 2nd defendant, Akinwale Timilehin, and the 3rd defendant, Mustapha Olayinka Idris, were still being held at the Olokuta Correctional Centre for their failure to perfect their bail conditions.