Man, 47, Lands In Trouble For Standing As Surety For Suspected Criminal

MICHAEL AKINOLA

A 47-year-old man, Ifeanyi Nwusula, has landed in trouble for allegedly standing as a surety for a suspected criminal, Nwusula Chibuike, who was detained following the order of Ojo Magistrate Court in Lagos State.

 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that suspect, Chibuike, was released from prison custody on bail and he absconded having realized that the evidence against him by the Police was weighty enough and he will not escape imprisonment if he faced trial before the Court.

 

He was alleged to have secretly taken some of his properties, ran away to an undisclosed location and disconnected every communication he had with the surety.

 

According to the Police, Chibuike was arraigned on 19th February, 2025, for an alleged criminal offence and was remanded in the correctional center pending when he would perfect his bail conditions.

 

However, Ifeanyi Nwusula went to the Court, facilitated his bail and he was released from custody on the promise to bring him anytime the Court needed him for the trial.

 

On 9th February, 2026, the matter was adjourned for hearing but Chibuike did not show up and did not inform the Court that he would not come for the hearing, which led to the Court giving an order for the surety to produce him on the adjourned date.

 

However, on the adjourned date, the surety, Ifeanyi Nwusula, informed the Court that Chibuike had run away and disconnected every communication he had with him.

 

The surety was subsequently arraigned before the Court for obstruction, conspiracy, and perverting the course of justice by standing as a surety to Chibuike and failing to produce him.

 

The charge read: “That you, Ifeanyi Nwusula, ‘M’, on the 19th day of February 2025 at about 09:00hrs at Ojo Magistrate Court 1, Ojo, in the Ojo Magisterial District, did obstruct, conspire, and pervert the course of justice by standing as a surety to one NWUSULA CHIBUIKE ‘M’ in Charge No: OJ/1/31/2025 and promised to produce him as and when due, but on 9th February 2026 and other subsequent dates, failed to do so, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

 

He pleaded not guilty.

 

The prosecutor, Supol Simeon Uche, 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, Mr. L.K.J. Layeni, granted him bail with a surety, 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 pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.