From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The federal government arraigned a traditional ruler in Osun State, Oba Taofeeq Olaposi Osunmakinde, and four others at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court over alleged illegal gold mining in Lege Community, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
They were however granted bail in the sum of N20 million each and one surety in like sum.
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered their remand in the correctional facility pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
Oba Osunmakinde, who is the Obawore of Ifetuntun in Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun State, was arraigned by the Attorney General of the Federation AGF in Abuja alongside four others on two count charges.
Others docked along with the monarch in charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/426/2024 are Sheu Mustapha, Sabiru Hashim, Danbaba Ibrahim, and Ade Olap Global Resources Limited.
They were accused by the prosecution of conspiring with others at large on August 25, 2024, to engage in the illegal mining of gold at the Ogunlepo mining site in Lege community, Odigbo local government area of Ondo State.
The alleged offence is said to be contrary to Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004 and punishable under Section 1(8) of the same Act.
The monarch and co-defendants were also alleged to have undertaken gold mining on August 25 without lawful authority, contrary to Section 1(8) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act and punishable under the same Act.
However, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them.
The prosecution counsel, Toluwalope Alex Ojo, thereafter, asked Justice Emeka Nwite to give the federal government a date to open its case against the accused persons.
Although the prosecution did not object to the bail of the accused persons, he, however, requested the court to compel them to deposit their international passports with the court.
Counsel to the defendants, Vincent Ododo, who moved consolidated bail applications for his clients, pleaded with the court to grant them bail on various grounds.
Part of the grounds he cited was that the 1st defendant was a well-known traditional ruler and that the charges against them did not carry capital punishment while also assuring that the defendants would not fail to appear in court for trial.
In a short ruling, Justice Nwite admitted them to bail in the sum of N20m each with one surety in the like sum.
The judge ordered that the sureties must be residents in Abuja with ownership of landed properties and must produce a three-year tax clearance certificate.
In addition, Justice Nwite ordered that the defendants must deposit their international passports along with three copies of each of their recent passport photographs with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
The court fixed September 26 for their trial.
