EDO State Police Command yesterday (Monday) arraigned two persons at the Oredo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly giving false and misleading information to the police that led to the arrest of some persons.
The accused Gabriel Ekhagba, male, 77 and Bashiru Aliu, male, 50 took their pleadings before the Chief Magistrate after their charges bordering on conspiracy and false information were read to them.
Both acused however pleaded not guilty to the two count charges.
Prosecutor, Olajide Mary Omonor, a Police Inspector told the court that the acused and those at large committed the offences on May, 4, 2021 at the Edo State Police Command’s headquarters in Benin City.
Olajide, said that the accused gave false information to Sunday Udoka, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, a piece of information that was later found to be untrue.
According to the charge sheet, the duo and others now at large on May, 4, 2021 at the Edo State Police command headquarters, Benin, in the Oredo magisterial district, did conspire together to commit felony to wit: false information.
She said the offence is punishable under section 516 of the criminal code Cap 48 Vol. 11, laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976 now applicable in Edo State.
On the second count, the accused and others now at large, were also alleged to have on the same day, month and year, at the state police command headquarters in Benin, in the Oredo magisterial district, did give false information to an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Sunday Udoka (m), a police officer being a person employed in the public service through written statements and addressed to the commissioner of Police in the state.
The count further read that the accused persons also wrote statements on May 6, 2021 where they alleged that one Umoru Yusuf (m), JIMOH Yusuf Mayo (m) and Kebiru Yusuf were involved in cultism knowing same to be false.
It added that the false information caused ASP Sunday Udoka (m) to perform a duty he ought not to have performed if the true facts were made known to him.
He noted that the offences are punishable under section 125 (1)(a) and (b) of the Criminal Code, laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 now applicable in Edo State.
Counsel to the accused persons Steve Oko Esq made an oral application for bail on liberal terms which was not opposed by the prosecutor.
The prosecutor however averred that the granting of bail is at the discretion of the court.
In her ruling, the presiding Magistrate, F.O Oghahenhen, senior Magistrate Grade II granted the accused bail with the sum of N50,000 each with a surety in like sum who must be gainfully employed.
She, however, adjourned the case to October 11, 2022 for hearing.
