Justice Abdulazeez Anka of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday revoked the bail earlier granted to the Balogun of Epe, Chief Olajide Ikuforiji, and granted him fresh bail conditions.
The court, in addition, ordered that Ikuforiji be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Ikoyi, pending the perfection of the fresh bail conditions.
The defendant, who is currently standing trial for alleged forgery and uttering of forged documents in two counts, had for a long time stopped attending court sessions for his trial consequent upon which the prosecutor, Mr Chukwu Agwu, from the Police Special Fraud Unit, sought a warrant of arrest, which was granted by Justice Anka.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, the defendant, alongside his lawyer, K.S. Lawal, appeared in court.
Lawal told the court that he had two applications pending before the court.
He said one of the motions was asking the court to set aside the earlier warrant of arrest against the defendant, while the second motion was for the court to set aside the earlier order which foreclosed the defendant’s case due to his prolonged absence to open his defence or file any written defence.
But the prosecutor, Mr Chukwu Agwu, in his opposition to the hearing of the two applications, said he was just served with the advance copy of the motions on the court premises and as such the applications were not ripe for hearing.
On the bench warrant for the arrest of the defendant, after prolonged argument and the defendant’s inability to clarify the true state of his sureties, the court revoked his earlier bail.
The court also directed the defendant to remain in the custody of the NCS pending the perfection of the bail terms.
Ikuforiji is being prosecuted by the PSFU, Lagos, in charge number FHC/ L/ 323c /2016.
Counts one of the charge alleged that Ikuforiji forged the minutes of the emergency meeting of Eko Epe Forum held on October 20, 2012, at the residence of Otun Mogaji Ngeri of Epe land.
The case was adjourned till January 16, 2023, for trial.