At the Ondo State Magistrate Court in Odigbo, the capital of the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, it was a dramatic scene when a defendant, Segun Akala, fled the courthouse after the magistrate ordered his remand.
Akala was arraigned before the court on one count of alleged theft, according to information gathered.
A source in the court stated, “As soon as the magistrate, D. O. Ogunfuyi, ordered his remand, the defendant, handcuffed, took off running, leapt out the court’s window, and hid in a nearby bush.
It required the intervention of police officers within the court area to apprehend and return him to court.
Akintan Akintade was alleged to have lost a motor saw chain and pullover clothing worth N336,000 to the defendant.
Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Usifo James, informed the court that the offense was committed on May 27, 2023, on Aipon Road, Via Odigbo, Ondo State.
According to the prosecutor, the offense violates Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Chapter 37 of the Laws of Ondo State, Nigeria, 2006.
However, the defendant pled not guilty to the charge brought against him.
The prosecutor requested a postponement so he could review the case file and prepare his witnesses for trial, while the defense attorney, Mr. Rufus Omotayo, asked the court to grant parole to the defendant.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Ogunfuyi granted the defendant parole in the amount of N100,000 with two sureties in the same amount.
He remanded the defendant to the Okitipupa Correctional Centre pending the fulfillment of his parole conditions and adjourned the case until June 23, 2023.
