The trial of 36-year-old Benjamin Okechukwu, accused of possession of counterfeit currency, was on Monday stalled at the Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State due to the absence of the defendant.
The defendant, who was first arraigned on Aug. 20, had pleaded not guilty and was granted N300, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
When the case came up on Monday, the defendant who was in detention due to his inability to perfect his bail, was absent in court.
The prosecutor, Insp. Simon Njue, told the court that the defendant was not produced in court by officials of the correctional centre where he was remanded.
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He asked for an adjournment to enable the officers of the correctional centre in Lagos State to produce the defendant in court at the next adjourned date.
The Magistrate, Mrs. A. S. Okubule, adjourned the case until Dec. 15 for mention and advised the prosecutor to ensure that the defendant was produced at the next adjourned date.
Earlier, the prosecutor had told the court that the defendant and others at large committed the alleged offences on Aug. 5, at 11:10p.m. at Idowu Rufai junction, Ago-Palace way, Lagos State.
He said that the defendant knowingly presented a counterfeit currency to be acted upon as genuine, to the prejudice of unsuspecting person.
Njue said the offences contravened Sections 356(1) and (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)
