KINGSLEY EBERE
A 43-year old man, Emmanuel Ola, has landed in trouble for standing as a surety for Pastor Eric Otabil Addo, who was detained over allegations of conspiracy, assault and defilement in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that after Pastor Addo was granted administrative bail in the sum of N500,000, he was released from detention to Mr. Emmanuel Ola as the surety. He promised the Police that he was a man of God and will not jump bail and also assured the Police that he will produce the Pastor anytime he is needed.
The incident happened on 19th May, 2025, at the Gender Section of the State Police Command in Ikeja, Lagos, where Pastor Addo was detained over the allegations.
However, when he was released from custody, Pastor Addo sensed that the weight of evidence the Police had against him will surely lead him to stay longer in prison. He quietly packed some of his properties and ran away without informing the church members including his surety. He also disconnected every communication he had with them and went into hiding.
Trouble started when Mr. Ola was asked to produce Pastor Addo as he had promised but he did not see him any longer. Mr. Ola then told the Police that the Pastor ran away and he was unable to trace him.
Thus, the Police arrested and charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for standing as a surety to Pastor Addo.
The charge read:
COUNT 1: “That you, Emmanuel Ola ‘m’, on the 19th day of May 2025, at the Gender Unit, Lagos State Police Command. Ikeja, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did stand as a surety to one Pastor Eric Otabil Addo ‘m’ and entered a recognizance for the sum of N500,000.00 and to produce him whenever he is needed at the Station with a written undertaking to produce him as a surety, in which you failed to produce the said suspect and conspired with him to aid his escape, which has defeated the course of justice and thereby committed an offence under Section 97(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Emmanuel Ola ‘m’, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did stand as a surety for one Pastor Eric Otabil Addo ‘m’, who was then detained over an allegation of conspiracy, assault occasioning harm and defilement, in the said bond you undertook to produce him from time to time till the case against him is finally discharged off or charged to court but you failed to produce the said suspect as required, you should therefore, show course why you should not forfeit to the Federal Government of Nigeria the sum of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), which you undertook to pay if you should failed to produce the suspect in line with Section 132(1) of the New Administration of Criminal Justice of Lagos State, 2015″.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Phillip Ademigbuji, then 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.