Court orders APC chieftain’s arrest in Ondo

A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has ordered the immediate arrest of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Ademola Ariyo, following his failure to produce an accused person, Bimbo Akinsehinwa, whom he stood for as a guarantor.

Akinsehinwa, with four others, including Aderonke Gbadamosi, Akinsira Usiola, Kofoworola James and Ganiyat Itunu, were brought before the court over fraudulent practices, but Akinsehinwa had refused to show up in court after his release.

All the accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court granted them bail, while Ariyo stood as Akinsehinwa’s guarantor during their arraignment.

Akinsehinwa was alleged to have shunned appearing before the court after the trial commenced in 2016 while his guarantor, Ariyo, also failed to appear in court with no reasons before the court for their absence.

In his ruling, the Magistrate, Mr Ayodeji Akinsanya, said after the bail of the first accused person (Akinsehinwa), the accused person decided not to appear before the court again.

The magistrate said, “Bimbo Akinsehinwa has jumped bail and the court has issued a bench warrant for his arrest together with one Captain Ademola Ariyo (rtd) who stood as his surety.”

He declared Ariyo wanted for standing surety for the accused person and for his absence from court sittings. He ordered the court police to paste his picture in front of his house and the court premises.

The accused persons, who were brought before the court by the police in 2016,  were facing eight-count charge which included felony, obtaining money under false pretence, fraud, forging a deed of transfer of land document, stealing and giving false testimony in an affidavit signed by them.

In the charge sheet, the accused persons allegedly committed the offence at Valentino area of Ondo town, Ondo State.

The offences committed were said to be contrary to and punishable under sections 516(1), 419, 390(9), 467, 484, 171 and 125A(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

The magistrate adjourned the case till February 21, 2017 for continuation of the trial.