Man, 55, Arraigned For Standing As Surety For Suspected Criminal

KINGSLEY EBERE 

A 55-year old man, Uzoka Augustine, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly standing as a surety for a suspected criminal, Kingsley Abah, at the Police station and the suspect ran away.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Police arrested Augustine and charged him for failure to produce the suspect as he had promised the Police and signed in the bail bond.

The incident happened on 22nd of December, 2025 at State Intelligence Department, State Police Coinmand, Ikeja.

According to the Police, the suspect,  Abah Idris, committed fraud, was arrested and detained at the Command for interrogation and prosecution over his alleged conduct.

While he was detained at the station, Mr. Augustine stood as a surety for him and promised the Police to produce him any time the Police requested for him at the station.

However, after the suspect, Abah, was granted bail and released from custody,  he realized that the Police had enough evidence against him and if he was charged before Court, he may likely be imprisoned based on the available evidence.

He quickly and secretly arranged some of his properties, ran away to an undisclosed place and disconnected every communication he had with Augustine, who stood as a surety for him at the station.

Trouble started for Mr. Augustine when the Police asked him to produce Abah as he had promised. He then explained that Abah ran away and disconnected every communication he had with him.

The Police in turn arrested and charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for allegedly refusing to produce Idris to the Police as he had entered into the bond before he was released to him.

The charge reads :

“That you, Uzoka Augustine, ‘M’ and others at large on the 22nd of December, 2025, at State Intelligence Department, State Police Coinmand, Ikeja, did conspire amongst yourselves by standing surety and took bail of Kingsley Abah ‘M’ who was involved in a case of Conspiracy, Fraudulent Conversion, Cheating and Conduct Likely to cause breach of peace, with the promise to produce him at the Station on the 30th December, 2025 and every other subsequent dates he may be required by the Police till the case against him is disposed off, which you failed to and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 97 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ihkayere, 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.A. Owolabi, granted him bail with a surety, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while address 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.