MICHAEL AKINOLA
A woman, Mrs. Eunice Iniobong, has been arrested and charged before the Court in Lagos State for standing as surety for his son, Kingsley Iniobong, as he ran away and left his mother to her fate.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Ejigbo Magistrate Court, where Kingsley was arraigned for alleged criminal offence of assault, malicious damage and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.
The embittered mother, Mrs. Iniobong, landed in trouble after her son was arraigned before the Court and was granted bail with sureties.
The concerned mother went to the Court and stood as surety for her son, Kingsley and promised to produce him anytime the Court needed him.
However, after Kingsley was released from prison custody, he realized that if he faces trial before the Court, he may likely be found guilty and sentenced accordingly. So, he secretly packed his belongings and escaped to an unknown place without informing his mother, who stood as surety for him or any member of his family. And he also disconnected every communication he had with the family.
When it was time for the hearing at the Court, Kingsley refused to come to Court and his mother was asked to produce him. At that point, she told the Court that the son ran away and she could not find him.
The Police found her culpable and consequently charged her before the Court for obstruction of the course of justice by aiding the escape of her son, Kingsley.
She pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu-Uthman, granted her bail in the sum N100,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
The Court ordered her remand in custody at the correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions and adjourned the matter till 20th December, 2023, for mention.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that every efforts to make Kingsley to come out so that his mother will be freed has been rebuffed as he was said to have asked his mother to sort herself out as he does not want to come out and go to prison.