Alleged Car Theft: Court rules on Iyanya’s bail application

IGBOSERE, Lagos – Nigerian musician, Onoyom Mbuk, better known as Iyanya has been granted bail by a Lagos High Court, sitting at Igboshere. Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile admitted bail to bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in the like sum.

“Surety must have a landed property with Certificate Of Occupancy (CofO) within Lagos and that the bail terms are to be verified by the prosecution”, Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile said.

Justice Omobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile gave Iyanya seven days to perfect the bail terms, failing which the terms will be revoked and the musician will be sent to tbe custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS). Iyanya was arraigned before Justice Okikiolu-Ighile by the men of Police Special Fraud Unit (SPFU), Ikoyi-Lagos, on one count-charge of alleged car theft.

PSFU through its prosecutor, Mr. Chukwu Agwu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), had filed the charge against the singer since March 15, 2019, and his arraignment has been adjourned for six times after the charge marked LD/9024c/2019, was filed due to his persistence failure to be in court, despite been served with the charge and hearing notice.

Iyanya was compelled to take his plea on February 4, after Justice Okikiolu-Ighile threatened to invoke the power of the court to ensure his attendance. He eventually appeared before the court on February 4, 2020, after which the charge was read to him.

Agwu while arraigning Singer, informed the court that Iyanya dishonestly converted to his use or property of another person, a Black Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Jeep marked MAVINIY, while the Chassis and Engine numbers are: JTEBX7FJ7EK165480 and 2TR1385954 respectively.

Agwu also told the court that the said vehicle belongs to ‘Temple Management Company Limited, represented by a lawyer, Ayodeji Olomojobi. The prosecutor informed the court that Iyanya committed the offence sometimes in September 2018 and that the offence committed by the musician contravenes Sections 278(1) (b), 279(1)(2) and punishable under Section 285(10) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The singer pleaded not guilty to the charge. Following his no-guilty plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Agwu, urged the court to remand the defendant in custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS), pending the the hearing and determination of his bail application.

Responding, the musician’s lawyer, B. I. Onuwara, pleaded with the court to remand his client in the custody of the NCS and called for the release of the musician to him and promised to produce him in court the next adjourned day. Iyanya’s trial which was formerly fixed for March 17, was today moved to May 27 and 28.