Justice Emmanuel Ayoola of a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, capital of Osun state, on Wednesday, slammed N300,000 fine on Bar. J. P. Jones, representing one of the defendants standing trial in the sharing of nude video of speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye.
The nude video of the then leader of the assembly was shared on social media and eight people were arrested in connection with the allegation.
Owoeye was said to be caught in a community, allegedly attempting to bath with blood. But, the speaker said he was set up by the defendants.
One of the defendants, Sikiru Ileladewa, was said to have jumped bail and his sureties were arrested.
It was gathered that one of the sureties has been remanded on the order of the court, while the second surety, Mr. Duduyemi, a principal, was arraigned on Wednesday.
Duduyemi was granted bail in the sum of N10million with two sureties one of which must be a traditional ruler. The court held that the principal should be remanded in Ile-Ife correctional center pending the perfection of his bail.
In a related development, Justice Ayoola ordered a counsel to one of the defendants, Bar. J. P. Jones, to pay a sum of N300,000 for failure to appear in court.
The lawyer had written the court to adjourn the matter, citing his appearance before a state high court for a murder case.
But, the state prosecutor, Mr. Moses Faremi, frowned at the excuse of the lawyer who he said was in court last week Thursday when the matter was adjourned. He urged the court to fine the lawyer for stalling the ongoing trials withing trial of the matter.
Justice Ayoola thereby awarded a fine of N300,000 against the counsel and directed him to pay before the adjournment date. He adjourned the case to Thursday December 12, for ruling on bail application of the sureties and continuation of trial within trial.
