Mohammed Shosanya
The Oba-Elect of Araromi-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State,Babalola Babatunde,was on Monday arraigned at Federal High Court sitting in Akure for allegedly committing forgery.
The accused was arraigned on two- charge.
He was docked for allegedly forging a certificate of University of Ibadan and presented same to University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti for job in 2008.
He was also alleged to have forged discharge certificate of National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) and presented same to the University Teaching Hospital for job.
When the charges were read to him, Babalola Babatunde, he told the court that he was not guilty.
The charged sheet NO:FHC/AK/16/2024 reads inter alia: “That you Babalola Babatunde on or about the 15th day of January, 2008 at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make and uttered a forged University of Ibadan Result which you knew to be false and with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine by the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti to offer you a job and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
“That you Batalola Babatunde on or about the 15 day of January, 2008 at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make and uttered a forged National Youth Service Corps Certificate which you knew to be false and with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine by the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti to offer you a job and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1[2](c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.”
The counsel to the defendant, Attah Paul told the court that he had filed and application on notice and prayed the court to give the application hearing.
But,the prosection counsel,Itunun Osobu told the court that he was yet to read the issues raised by the defendant’s counsel in his reply to the counter-affidavit he filed.
Osobu told the court that he would be presenting two witnesses before the court to prove the charges.
The defendant’s counsel prayed the court to release the Oba-Elect on bail, promising that he would not jump bail.
Justice Owoeye asked if the defendant has any surety and Attah answered that the defendant has a you get brother who is a business man based in Akure, Ondo State capital.
He also told the court that the defendant’s in-law was in court.
According to Attah, the defendant’s in-law has a property in Akure.
However, Attah prayed the court to present the defendant to nearest police station pending the adjournment date.
In his ruling, Justice Owoeye ordered that the defendant, Babalola Babatunde be detained in the office of Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 17, Akure, while he adjourned the hearing till Thursday, May 23, 2024.
