Alleged Defilement: Businessman docked for failing to produce suspect

By Ngozi Njoku

A businessman, Robert Makolo, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, for failing to produce a suspect he stood surety for in a case of defilement.

Makolo had promised to produce the suspect, Paul, who is his brother in court by the adjourned date.

The Magistrate, Mr Lateef Owolabi, adjourned the case until May 30 for mention and to enable the defendant to produce the suspect.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Makolo had earlier been arraigned on Jan. 22 and stood trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and perversion of justice.

He had pleaded not guilty.

Owolabi granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum who must produce evidence of 3 years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

He said that one of the sureties must be a blood relative.

The prosecutor, SP Josephine Ikhayere, had told the court that Makolo stood in as surety on Nov 16, 2023, at the Anthony Police Station.

Ikhayere alleged that Makolo stood as a surety for his brother Paul, who was involved in a case of defilement.

She said that the defendant promised to produce his brother the suspect anytime his presence was required at the police station until the case was finally disposed of.

She said that the defendant undertook to produce the suspect on Nov. 30, 2023, but failed.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 97 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos.

Edited by Yakubu Uba/Sadiya Hamza