A Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wuse Zone 2, Abuja on Tuesday granted bail in the sum of N200,000 each to three students of the university of Abuja who were facing certificate forgery trial.
The Magistrate, Idayat Akanni Olaide, granted the suspects bail with one surety in like sum.
The Magistrate said the surety must not be lower than a level 8 civil servant and should also be a resident within the jurisdiction of the court.
The students, Effiong Theresa, Solomon Victor and Abdulkabir Mohammad were arraigned before the court on Tuesday on forgery allegations.
The fourth suspect, Yakubu Joy Adama, who allegedly committed the same offence, could not make it to the court for arraignment.
The students were alleged to have forged the National Examination Council (NECO) certificates to gain admission into the University of Abuja.
They were handed over to the examination body by management of the university for prosecution.
The students pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The students could spend up to 14 years in prison if found guilty.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) read by the Clerk of the court to the suspects, the alleged offence committed is in breach of Section 364 of the Penal Code.
Police Prosecutor, Mr Chijoke Okezie, said he was ready to ensure that the case was well prosecuted.
“They have been arraigned for the offence of forgery and the matter has been mentioned and the adjournment taken for hearing.
“One is absent and efforts are on to get her. We are going to look for her.
“Bail is a right. They are entitled to bail as long as they will come back the day they are asked to come back. There is no need to object to bail,” he said.
The court adjourned the case to April 23 for trial.
However, the defendants were yet to perfect their bail conditions, which may see them head to detention or prison until the bail terms are fully met.
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