Court grants N20m bail to blackmailer of Osun lawmaker

A Federal High Court, in Osogbo on Tuesday granted  N20 million bail to Babatunde Oluajo,   an alleged blackmailer who defrauded an Osun Lawmaker, Timothy Owoeye.

Justice Maurine Onyetenu,  in his ruling on the bail application filed by defence counsel, Mr Jimmy Jones, ordered the accused to produce two sureties in like sum.

Onyetenu also ordered that one of the sureties must be a Civil Servant not beyond Grade Level 14 .

She adjourned the case until Feb. 13 for hearing of the substantive matter.

The police alleged that the accused is charged with allegedly defrauding an Osun lawmaker  of N38 Million and dubiously recording  a video showing him naked.

The offence, the police said was committed on Sept.  16 at Osunjela area.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Moses Faremi,  urged the court to discountenance the bail application by the  defence counsel, on grounds that the accused will not attend his trail if granted bail.

Faremi told the court that Oluajo masterminded the act that led to lawmaker being defrauded.

Faremi further said the defendant had a confessional statement with the police and had also returned some of the money he collected from the lawmaker.

He urged the court to discountenance the bail application by the defence counsel, adding that the defendant would not stand his trial if granted bail.

Defence counsel, had prayed the court to overrule the application of the prosecution and grant his client bail in the most liberal terms. (NAN)