Ekiti Monarch-Elect Arraigned For Allegedly Forging UI Certificate

The Oba-Elect of Araromi-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of the state, Babalola Adebomi was on Monday arraigned at Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital for certificate forgery.

Babalola, 48 was arraigned on two charges, bordering forging a certificate of the University of Ibadan and presenting the same to the University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti for a job in 2008 and also forging his discharge certificate from the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) and presented same to the University Teaching Hospital for the job.

The charges sheet NO: FHC/AK/16/2024 reads in parts “That you Babalola Babatunde on or about the 15th day of January 2008 at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make and uttered a forged University of Ibadan Result which you knew to be false and with the intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine by the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti to offer you a job and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

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“That you Batalola Babatunde on or about the 15 day of January 2008 at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make and uttered a forged National Youth Service Corps Certificate which you knew to be false and with the intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine by the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti to offer you a job and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 12 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act”.

Babalola, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defence counsel, Attah Paul said he had filed an application on notice and prayed the court to give the application hearing.

The prosecution attorney, Itunun Osobu told the court that he was yet to read the issues raised by the Defendant’s attorney in his reply to the counter-affidavit he filed.

Osobu added that he would be presenting two witnesses before the court to prove the charges.

The Defendant’s attorney, therefore prayed the court to release the Oba-Elect on bail, promising that he would not jump bail.

In his ruling, Justice Owoeye ordered that the defendant, Babalola Babatunde be detained in the Assistant Inspector General of Police’s office, and adjourned the hearing till Thursday, May 23, 2024.