Man, 38, Lands In Big Trouble For Standing As N100m Surety For Suspected Criminal

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A 38-year old man, Victor Onalapo, has landed in big trouble for standing as N100m for a suspected criminal, Victor Andrew, who was arrested and investigated in connection with alleged fraud in Lagos State. 

 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Victor Onalapo went to the Police at Command Special Squad II Lagos State Police Command, State Headquarters, and signed a N100m  bail bond and the suspect, Andrew, was released to him on condition that he will produce whenever the Police needed him.

 

However, after Andrew was released on bail from Police custody, he sensed that he may likely go to prison based on the overwhelming evidence against him by the Police. He secretly packed some of his properties and ran away. He then disconnected every communication he had with his surety and the Police and went into hiding.

 

The Police later contacted the surety to produce Andrew as he had promised when he signed the bail bond. But he told the Police that Andrew ran away after he was granted bail and he was unable to trace him.

 

The Police arrested him and asked him to pay for the N100m bond he signed before the suspect was released to him. He was unable to do so as he told the Police that he had no such money to pay.

 

The Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court.

The charge read:

“That you, Victor Onalapo ‘m’, on the 30th of September, 2025 at Command Special Squad II Lagos State Police Command, State Headquarters, Muiz Banire Street, GRA Ikeja Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did stand as a surety for one Victor Andrew ‘m’ who was arrested and investigated in connection with a case of conspiracy, stealing and fraud of which you signed a bond to produce him on the 2nd of October, 2025 and every other subsequent dates that the Police may request to see him pending the time the case before him shall be disposed of or charged to court and subsequently undertook to forfeit the sum of One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000.00k) to the state government under this condition which you failed to discharge your responsibility as a surety and Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97(1) of the Criminal law of Lagos State. ”

 

He pleaded not guilty.

 

The Prosecutor, Supol Philip Ademigbuji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.

 

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

 

The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.