Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has granted bail toa father-in-law and wife-in-law, Alaba Alakija and Oyinkansola Alakija, arraigned before him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bail.
Justice Dada temporarily released the defendants pending the conclusion of their trial after the anti-graft agency arraigned them before her on a two-count charge of conspiracy and using false documents.
The prosecutor, M. S. Owede, had told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences on or about August 6, 2015, in Lagos.
Owede had also told the court that the defendant conspired to use a false document titled ‘Vesting Deed by Dr Omodele Alakija and Mr Afolabi Alakija’.
He claimed that the intention behind their action was to allegedly financially benefit from the property located at 10 Keffi Street, South West, Ikoyi, Lagos, by presenting the document as an authentic bail application made by Dr Omodele Alakija and Mr Afolabi Alakija, who were the executors of Owede’s client’s estate.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Based on their plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Ikoyi Center of the Nigerian Correctional Services.
But the first defendant’s counsel, Yemi Akangbe (SAN), informed the court of his client’s bail application, which he had filed and served on the prosecution.
He urged the court to grant the defendants bail in the most liberal terms.
The lawyer to the second defendant, Victor Giwa, also prayed the court to move his bail orally, being informed late about the matter, and he was not from the jurisdiction.
He claimed that the second defendant, a lawyer with a nine-month-old baby, would not jump bail.
But the defendant’s husband, who appeared before the court, debunked the claim and told the court that their baby is two months old.
After listening to the lawyers, Justice Dada granted bail to the first defendant in the sum of N 10 million with two sureties in like sum; she also ordered him to submit his international passport to the court.
The second defendant was released to her husband, but the court confiscated her international passport.
Both defendants were released to their lawyers, pending the perfection of their bail terms.
The judge then adjourned the case to May 28 for the trial.
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