The Police on Thursday brought a 24-year-old man, Victor Akande, before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly threatening a catholic bishop’s life.
The defendant, of no fixed address, is standing trial on a two-count charge of threat to life and breach of peace.
The prosecutor, Insp Olasunkanmi Bamikole, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Jan.15, at about 8.30 p.m., at Bishop’s House in Ado-Ekiti.
He alleged the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by threatening the life of Ekiti Catholic Bishop, Most Revd. Felix Ajakaye.
According to Bamikole, the defendant is a drug addict, who was once arrested and warned never to enter the bishop’s house.
The prosecutor added that the defendant later went back to the bishop’s house.
“The defendant said he went back to the premises to ask for forgiveness,” Bamikole said.
He said the offences contravened Sections 46 and 181(1) (d) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
He urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him study the case file and assemble his witnesses.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.
Counsel to the defendant, Mr Opeyemi Esan, told the court that he got an information that the bishop had pardoned the defendant.
He said the bishop recommended the defendant to undergo rehabilitation.
Esan, however, urged the court to grant the defendant bail, promising that he would not jump bail.
In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adefunke Anoma, said, “there is nothing before the court to support the defendant counsel’s claim, to warrant striking out the charge”.
Anoma, consequently, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10,000 with one surety in like sum.
She adjourned the case until Jan.28 for report of settlement or hearing.
