Two public servants were on Friday docked in a Grade I Area Court, Karu, Abuja, over alleged failure to produce a suspect in court.
The police charged Abdul Hafsat and Yahaya Akeem with joint acts and screening of an offender.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Ade Adeyanju, told court that the matter was reported at the Karu Police station by Hauwa Ijomu of Karu site, Abuja.
Adeyanju told the court that sometime in October 2021, the complainant entrusted N4 million to Seidu Haruna of Karu site Abuja, presently at large for a plot of land located at plot 504 Karu village extension Abuja.
Adeyanju said that it was discovered that the said land belonged to another person and Haruna agreed to refund all the monies collected from her.
He said Haruna had so far refunded, N2.6 million with a balance of N1.4 million.
The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 79 and 167 of the Penal Code.
He said that during the police investigation, Haruna was released on police administrative bail to the defendants with an instruction that they should both produce him whenever he is needed by the police but they failed to obey with an intent to enable him escape criminal justice.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Judge, Mr Anas Mohammed, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1.5 million each with a surety in like sum who must live within the court’s jurisdiction.
Mohammed ordered that the surety must be a GL12 officer in the civil service, his first appointment letter, confirmation letter and last promotion letter should be presented to the court.
He adjourned the case until December 12 for hearing.
