A Magistrate Court, sitting in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, granted bail to a 52-year-old man named Paul Kayode Joash in the sum of N10 million.
This bail is in connection with his alleged involvement in the theft of a sum of N306,111,500.
In the case presided over by Magistrate M. Mudashiru at Court 2, it was ordered that the suspect, Joash, must produce two reliable sureties in the sum of N10 million each. These sureties must possess landed property within the Iyaganku Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Ibadan and deposit the Certificate of Registration (C of O) and Deed of Assignment with the court’s registrar.
Joash had earlier been arraigned before the court on a 10-count charge bordering on stealing and fraud, which he pleaded not guilty to.
According to the case marked: MI/1097c/2023 in a matter between the Commissioner of Police Vs Paul Kayode Joash, “Count 1: That you Paul Kayode Joash ‘M’ and others now at large sometimes in the month of August, 2022 at Sango Area of Ibadan Magisterial District did conspire together to commit felony to wit obtaining money under false pretence and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Volume II Laws of Oyo State Nigeria 2000.
“Count 2: That you Paul Kayode Joash ‘M’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in aforementioned Magisterial District did fraudulently obtain the total sum of N134, 823,750:00 from one Pastor Elegbe Akintola Frederick under the pretence to procure certificate of sponsorship to the United Kingdom for the persons namely Mrs Akinlose Temitope Susan, Temitope Susan, Mrs Florence Omobolaji, Mr Sadiq Obaro Azeez, Mr Olalekan Yusuf Adewale, Mrs Aromolaran Folakemi, among others.
“Count 4: That you Paul Kayode Joash ‘M’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in aforementioned Magisterial District did fraudulently obtain the total sum of N30 million from one Mr Martins Omogbai of Travel Club NG under the pretence to procure certificate of sponsorship to the UK for the following persons, namely Mr Olasupo Onifade Matthew, Mr Aribo Olamide, Mrs Haruna Ganiyat, among others.
“Count 7: That you Paul Kayode Joash ‘M’ and others on the same date, time and place in aforementioned Magisterial District did fraudulently obtain the total sum of N94, 137, 750:00 and 2,700 Pounds Sterling, equivalent to N41, 04 million, all total value sum of N135, 177,750:00 from Jerd Multiservices Konsult under the pretence to procure certificate of sponsorship to the United Kingdom for Godson Osia, Aisha Alabi, Emeka Oyem, among others.
But all the complainants were represented by Pastor Fred Akinola Elegbe, Alhaji Babatunde Ibrahim of Jerd Multiservices Konsult, Mrs Olayinka Elizabeth Adekunle, Mrs Olayinka Elizabeth Adekunle and Martins Omogbai.
Though the prosecution counsel, Amos Adewale, opposed the bail application moved by the defence counsel, Ayobami Kosemani, citing flight risk, Magistrate Mudashiru granted the accused bail.
Kosemani pleaded for bail on behalf of his client, explaining that he needs to attend to his health at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
The Magistrate held that Joash must deposit his Nigerian passport and British passport to the registrar of the court.
Culled: Tribune Online
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