Bail application for 3 UTME registration offenders suffers setback

… As court issues production warrant on correctional centre

Bail application for three suspects, who were apprehended during the 2023 UTME for registration infractions, and who were facing trial at the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has suffered another setback following the failure of the officials of the Nigeria Correctional Centre(NCC), Olokuta, Akure, to produce them in court.

When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, 13th November, 2023, for trial, the prosecuting counsels, M.I Osimen and T.O Badegbo, announced their appearances and informed the court of their readiness for the trial as they had come with two witnesses.

The reason canvassed by the officials of the NCC was that they had thought that the proposed strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress would take place on Monday, 13th November, 2023.

The counsels to the defendants, Clement Falana and Austin Agbounghale, expressed their frustration over the failure of the officials of the correctional centre to produce their clients in court in spite of having spent over six months in custody.

The counsels pleaded with the court to hear the pending bail application even in the absence of their clients as they drew the attention of the court to the provision of the law, which stipulated bail for their defendants as their offences were bailable even without their presence in court.

However, the Presiding Judge, Justice T. B. Adegoke, said the date of hearing was communicated to all the parties and if there were changes in date, the court would have informed the litigants throught their common WhatsApp platform, which, among other channels, also serves as a veritable information-sharing platform for Federal Court lawyers.

Justice T. B. Adegoke, therefore, adjourned the case to 7th December, 2023, for ruling on the bail application for the defendants.

In addition, Justice Adegoke mandated that a production warrant be issued to the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Olokuta, Akure, mandating it to produce the defendants in court to enable them attend their trial.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the defendants broke down in tears when the judge announced the adjournment of the case as they had been in prison custody since 24th May, 2023.