ABUJA – An Abuja Federal High Court on Wednesday ordered two men, Olaniyi Sarafadeen and Adebisi Adegoke, to be remanded at Kuje Prisons over alleged counterfeiting of tax clearance certificate.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola gave the order after hearing submissions by prosecution counsel, Mrs Imelda Lekwot, and counsel for the accused, Mssrs Martin Opara and Adulrahman Abubakar.
“The accused shall be remanded in the custody of Kuje Prisons, FCT Command, and be produced in court on Oct. 17 for hearing of their bail application.
“The prosecution counsel shall file a counter-affidavit to the bail application filed by the accused counsel within 24 hours.
“The legal validity of the administrative bail of the accused persons as submitted by their counsel expires once they are arraigned in court,’’ Kolawole said. [eap_ad_2] The accused were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy to counterfeit, actually counterfeiting and knowingly counterfeiting a tax clearance certificate in favour of a private firm, Sheravon Nig. Ltd.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service, the nominal complainant, had joined Sheravon, Sarafadeen and Adegoke as co-accused in the case.
It accused the trio of conspiring, knowingly and actually counterfeiting a tax clearance certificate with serial number: 05207163 on Feb. 23, 2012 and unlawfully issuing same in favour of Sheravon.
The offences are said to be punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 28; Section 43 (a&b) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service Establishment Act No. 13, 2007.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.
“Having pleaded not guilty to the charges, the accused have put themselves up for trial, and in the circumstance we are asking for their trial to commence,’’ the prosecution counsel had told the court.
“While we are not opposed to the prosecution counsel’s submission for a date for trial, we are craving the court’s indulgence to move an oral application for the bail of the accused,’’ Opara said.
Lekwot, however, opposed the oral application, saying she needed time to file a counter-affidavit to the accused counsel’s application.
Justice Kolawole adjourned the case until Oct. 17 for ruling in the bail application and trial. (NAN) [eap_ad_3]