Malik Yahya & NAN/
An Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday admitted Senator Ademola Adeleke, the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2018 Osun governorship election, to bail in the sum of N2m.
The Police arraigned Adeleke in an Mpape Chief Magistrates’ Court on five counts of certificate forgery.
Adeleke was charged with alleged false statement that he attended Ede Muslim Grammar School in Ede, Osun State, and obtained WASSCE.
The Police also alleged that Adeleke forged the school letter of attestation purported to have been signed by one Mr. Abbas Khalid, the principal of the school.
The Magistrate, Mohammed Zubairu, admitted Adeleke to N2m bail with one surety in like sum.
Zubairu also ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
He also held that the court has jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Zubairu then adjourned the case until June 24 for further hearing.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Simon Lough, told the court that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 164, 164, 362, 362 and 364.
Adeleke pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The defence counsel, Adebeyi Adeyosoye, prayed the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms or self recognition.
He assured that his client will not jump bail, saying he is a reliable and well known citizen.
Adeleke was detained after honouring an invitation by the police yesterday and was subsequently charged to court today.
The Senator had before his arraignment challenged his his arrest and arraignment by the police over allegations of certificate forgery.
Immediately the senator entered the dock, his counsel objected to his arraignment.
Counsel to the police however said he is ready to proceed with the case.
Adeyosoye said a Federal High Court in Osun State has granted an order restraining the police from arresting the lawmaker and that the court also gave him leave to travel to the US on the account of ill health.
He said the order of the Federal High Court asked the defendant to answer to their invitation but the court ordered that the first defendant return his passport to the court three days after his return.
He explained that the court ordered that the police will not arrest Senator Adeleke upon honouring the police invitation.
He further noted that a High Court in Osun state also affirmed and upheld the order.
“We are not saying he cannot be arraigned but the order of the court has to be respected,” he added.
Adeyosoye concluded that based on the order it will be impracticable to continue with the arraignment.
But the prosecutor said he is not objecting to the tendering of the documents rather he was not served.
The defence lawyer prayed the court to adjourn the matter indefinitely pending the hearing and determination of the suit before the court which has the same facts as this case and where the prosecutor is a party in the suit.
Replying the prosecutor opposed the application that the matter be adjourned indefinitely and the release of the defendant.
He submitted that the objection is highly misplaced and misconceived noting that the court did not say the Senator cannot be arraigned but only directed him to appear before the police.
He added that they have filed an appeal and motion for a stay against the order.
Adeyosoye in his response said the motion filed by the police is a mere paper because there is no order of the court.
He added that the order of the Osun high Court has not been objected to by anybody.
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