The Lagos State High Court’s Justice Ibironke Harrison, who sits in Tafawa Balewa Square, has scheduled June 4 to rule on the bail application of five individuals who were arraigned against Oba Saheed Elegushi, the Elegushi of Ikate Land, on charges of giving false statements to the police.
According to PUNCH Online, the defendants were hauled before Justice Harrison on eight charges that included, among other offenses, conspiracy, making false claims, and impersonation.
Adeigbagbo Harrison, Megbalewon Adeniji James, Harrison Soji, Prince Toluwoleke Megba, and Segun Ekomale (Ikuomola) are the accused.
According to M. Animashaun, the police prosecution counsel, the defendants at the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, on or around November 30, 2022, made false criminal accusations against a number of people, including Oba Elegushi, the Al-Mansour family, Chinedu Nweke, Chief Ogunyemi John, and Mosunmola Ogunyemi.
“That on or around November 30, 2022, at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, in the Lagos Judicial Division, you, Adeigbagbo Harrison, Prince Toluwoleke Megba, Harrison Soji, Megbalewon Adeniji James, Segun Ekomale, and others now at large, made a false statement of criminal allegation to the police against His Royal Majesty, Oba Saheed Elegushi (the Elegushi of Ikate Land), information you knew or should have known was false.
The defendants entered a not guilty plea to the charges at their arraignment, but they were permitted to remain on the administrative bail that the police had previously given them while their official bail applications were heard and decided.
The defendants’ attorney, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, requested the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms when the matter was called for hearing on Thursday. He cited the fact that the offense is bailable and that his clients had previously received administrative bail.
He said, “The defendants have demonstrated faithfulness and loyalty by constantly making themselves available. I therefore urged the Honourable court to be merciful.”
Meanwhile, the police prosecutor, M.A. Animashaun, opposed the bail application, stressing that the defendants had previously been on the run before they were apprehended.
After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Harrison adjourned the matter till June 4, 2025, for a ruling on the bail applications and July 2025, for the commencement of trial.
About The Author
