Babalola Adebomi, the Oba-Elect of Araromi-Ekiti in Ekiti State, was arraigned on Monday at the Federal High Court in Akure, Ondo State, for certificate forgery. The 48-year-old monarch from Ijero Local Government Area faced two charges related to forging certificates.
Adebomi was accused of forging a University of Ibadan certificate and presenting it to the University Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti for a job in 2008. Additionally, he allegedly forged his National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate and used it for the same job application.
The charge sheet (NO: FHC/AK/16/2024) reads in part, “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 utter 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.”
Babalola pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorney, Attah Paul, filed an application on notice and requested a hearing. The prosecution attorney, Itunun Osobu, informed the court that he had not yet reviewed the issues raised in the defendant’s counter-affidavit.
Osobu stated that he would present two witnesses to support the charges. Meanwhile, the defense attorney requested bail for Babalola, assuring the court that he would not abscond. Attah indicated that Babalola’s younger brother, a businessman in Akure, would serve as a surety. Additionally, he mentioned that the defendant’s in-law owned property in Akure and suggested presenting Babalola to the nearest police station until the next court date.
Justice Owoeye ordered that Babalola Babatunde be detained in the Assistant Inspector General of Police’s office and adjourned the hearing to Thursday, May 23, 2024.
