The trial of a Traditional Ruler, the Alararomi of Araromi Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba Babalola Adebomi in the Federal High Court, Akure, Ondo State, over alleged certificate forgery, has been adjourned till January 28th, 2025.
Oba Babalola was arraigned few months ago on two-count charge, bordering on alleged forgery of University of Ibadan certificate and presenting same to University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti for job in 2008 and also alleged forgery of Discharge Certificate of National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) and presenting same to the University Teaching Hospital for job.
The charge sheet No:FHC/AK/16/2024 reads inter alia: “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 uttered a forged University of Ibadan Result which you knew to be false and with 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.
“That you Batalola Babatunde on or about the 15 day of January, 2008 at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make and uttered a forged National Youth Service Corps Certificate which you knew to be false and with 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 12 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act”.
As the case shifted to Court 2 under the new judge, Honorable Justice T.B. Adegoke, counsel to the plaintiff, Tolu Abisagbo, requested the charges to be read again to the defendant as the monarch pleaded not guilty.
In response, counsel to the defendant, Olumide Ogidan informed the court of his pending application to transfer the trial to Ekiti
Justice Adegoke adjourned the case until January 28, 2025.
