SURETY ARRAIGNED IN STEAD OF FLEEING ACCUSED

For failing to produce an accused in court, a 38-year-old businessman, Bienvenu Agbessi was in Lagos on Wednesday charged before an Igbosere Senior Magistrate's Court.

The surety-turned accused is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and failing to produce a person he stood surety for, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The prosecutor, Mr. Ijeh Nkankuk, arraigned Agbessi for the offence originally committed by the first accused.

'That you Agbessi on December 15 and 19, 2009 at Ikoyi, Lagos, conspired with others still at large to steal N3.67m property of Mrs. Carole Augustos,' the prosecutor told the court.

He said the accused stood as surety for the first accused with the intent to make him to escape justice.

Nkankuk said the offence contravened Sections 132, 390 (6) and 515 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

NAN reports that the accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate, W.B. Balogun, adjourned the case till May 5 for further hearing.