A 75-year-old man, Peter Kalu, on Friday appeared before the Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, for allegedly refusing to produce a suspected thief for whom he stood surety.

Mr Kalu, who is facing a one-count charge of refusal to produce a suspect, pleaded not guilty.

Consequently, the court’s president, S. M. Akintayo, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.

Ms Akintayo added that one of the sureties must be a community leader, and the other must possess landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.

She thereafter adjourned the matter until April 27 for a hearing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Ayeni, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence on January 30 at the Orita-Challenge Police Station, Ibadan.

Mr Ayeni further stated that Mr Kalu presented himself as a surety for one John Kalu, who was under investigation for allegedly stealing and damaging property.

He, however, told the court that the defendant refused to produce the suspect at the station on the appointed date.

According to Ayeni, the offence contravenes Section 136 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

(NAN)