21st December, 2022
By Adenike Ayodele
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Wednesday lowered the bail condition of the Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, Dr Femi Olaleye from 50 million to 40 million.
Justice Ramon Oshodi reduced the bail after the lead counsel for the defendant, Mr. Babatunde Ogala, SAN, moved an application.
Ogala prayed the court to reduce his client’s bail to N10 million and that one of the sureties should be a family or a professional colleague.
The State Counsel, led by the Director of the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr Babajide Martins did not object the application and left the application at the discretion of the court.
Ramon, however, in his ruling reduced the bail from N50 million to N40 million with two sureties in like sum.
He ruled that the sureties must be property owners in Lagos State and that each property must be equal to the N40 million bail sum in value.
“I have carefully considered the affidavits, evidence and written submission filed on behalf of the defendant.
“However, I do not agree that the bail term be varied on the terms dictated by defence. I consider the appropriate issue for determination as this court exercises its discretion in favour of the defendant by varying the bail condition in the ruling of Nov. 30.
“The defendant is hereby admitted to bail in the sum of N40 million with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be owners of build-up properties in Lagos State and each property must be sufficient to cover the bail sum.
“The original title of the documents must be property and must be submitted to the chief registrar of the court.
“Both sureties provide proper identification, including the national identification, and must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government in the last three years,” the judge held.
Ramon also ordered the defendant to submit his Nigerian international passport, British Passport and other valid documents to the chief registrar of the court.
The defence counsel, in his 17-paragraph affidavits dated Dec. 20, had prayed the court to review the bail condition of the defendant by granting him bail on liberal terms.
NAN