Monarch-Elect Arraigned Over Certificate Forgery In Ekiti
An Ekiti monarch-elect of Araromi-Ekiti in the Ijero Local Government Area, Babalola Adebomi, faced charges of certificate forgery at the Federal High Court in Akure, Ondo State capital on Monday.
The charges allege that Babalola, 48, committed two offenses: forging a certificate from the University of Ibadan and presenting it to the University Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti for employment in 2008, as well as forging his National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate and presenting it to the same hospital to secure a job.
The charges sheet NO:FHC/AK/16/2024 reads inter alia, “That you Babalola Babatunde on or about the 15th day of January, 2008 at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make and uttered a forged University of Ibadan Result which you knew to be false and with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine by the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti to offer you a job and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
“That you Batalola Babatunde on or about the 15 day of January, 2008 at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make and uttered a forged National Youth Service Corps Certificate which you knew to be false and with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine by the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti to offer you a job and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 12 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act”.
However, Babalola pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his attorney, Attah Paul, stated that he had filed an application and requested the court to hear it.
The prosecution attorney, Itunun Osobu, informed the court that he had not yet read the issues raised by the Defendant’s attorney in his reply to the counter-affidavit he filed. Osobu also mentioned that he would be presenting two witnesses to prove the charges.
The Defendant’s attorney requested the court to grant bail to Babalola, assuring that he would not flee.
Asked about a surety, Attah mentioned Babalola’s younger brother, a businessman in Akure, as well as an in-law with property in Akure, and requested that Babalola be held at the nearest police station until the adjournment date.
Justice Owoeye ruled that Babalola Babatunde be detained at the Assistant Inspector General of Police’s office and adjourned the hearing till Thursday, May 23, 2024.