76-Year-Old Father Arrested After His Son He Stood Surety For Escaped

An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos will on September 14, decide the fate of a father, Rasaki Ademola Adeniran, who stood as surety for his son on N1,200,000 bail but failed to produce him for police investigation.

76-year-old Rasaki was arraigned on Tuesday by the Zone 2 Police Division, Onikan, Lagos, before the magistrate, S. K. Matepo.

He pleaded guilty to a 2-count charge of conspiracy and perversion of justice and Magistrate Matepo granted him bail with two sureties and adjourned for allocutus and sentencing.

A police source said Rasaki’s son, Lukman Adeniran, got a contract worth over N3,000,000 from a firm in Lagos to supply charcoal.

The contract fell through and Lukman was arrested by the Zone 2 Police Division and granted N1.2m bail and one surety, which was fulfilled by his father.

He allegedly subsequently disappeared following which the police arrested his dad and arraigned him on a two-count charge of conspiracy and perversion of justice.

Prosecuting Inspector Eshiet Eshiet told the court that Lukman and others were suspects in a fraud incident which occurred on March 23, 2015 at Ikeja.

“The defendant stood as surety for Adeniran Lukman in the sum of N1.2m at ‘X’ Squad Unit, Lagos State Police Command in respect of a case of obtaining money by false pretence, stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.

“He prevented Adeniran from appearing at X Squad Unit for prosecution with intent to defeat and frustrate the course of justice,” Eshiet said.

The offences, he added, were punishable under Sections 409 and 97(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The magistrate will take a position on September 14.