67-Year Old Man In Prison For Bailing Suspected Criminal

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 67-year old man, Pius Afioye, has landed in trouble after he effected the release of a suspected criminal, Mr. Ebenezer Isah Aina, who eventually ran away to escape trial in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Area M Command in Idimu, Lagos, where Mr. Aina was arrested and detained for a criminal offence.

Mr. Aina was said to have committed a serious criminal offence which the police had overwhelming evidence to prosecute and jail him. However, while he was in police detention at the Command, he contacted 67-year old Afioye and pleaded with him to stand as surety so that if he came out he will find a way to solve the matter with the complainant. Mr. Afioye then went to the Command, stood as surety and facilitated his release. He promised the police that he will produce Mr. Aina anytime the police requested him to do so. It was gathered that the police considered his plea and then granted Mr. Aina bail as requested by Afioye.

Trouble was said to have started for the 67-year old Afioye after Mr. Aina was released from custody. Aina was said to have known that if he was taken to court, that the police will secure conviction and he will be jailed because of the enormity of evidence the police had. He then quietly parked his belongings and ran away without even informing Afioye of his plan and whereabouts.
The police then requested Afioye to produce Aina for prosecution and he informed the police that he did not know his whereabouts after he was released from custody.
He was arrested and charged before Ejigbo Magistrates court for perversion of justice by failing to produce Aina as he had promised.
He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Mr. G. Simon, did not oppose his being granted bail.
Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.K.J. Layeni, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.
The matter was adjourned till 15th August, 2018.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that when Aina was contacted, he was adamant and refused to show up but advised the 67-year old Afioye to find a way to sort himself out of the matter.