Mohammed Shosanya
Two suspects facing trial over infractions in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are still in custody over failure to perfect their bail conditions spanning five months at the moment.
Only one of the suspect has been able to secure bail.
All suspects are standing trial at the Federal High Court, Akure, Ondo State.
The two other suspects who are still in custody have not been able 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.
The 2nd defendant, Akinwale Timilehin, and the 3rd defendant, Mustapha Olayinka Idris, are still being held at the Olokuta Correctional Centre for their failure to perfect their bail conditions.
In his verdict,Justice T.O. Adegoke, had 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.