By Sade Adewale, Ondo

A 41-year-old aluminum fabricator, Kehinde Adebayo, has been dragged before the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo town, for converting N2.1 million meant for the construction of Aluminum windows and doors at Oyo State Command.

The police brought Adebayo before the court on Thursday for committing fraud .

The defendant was said to have committed the offence on January 21, 2021, in Ondo city within the Magisterial District  jurisdiction, contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 390 of the Criminal Code, Act cap C 39 LFN, 2004.

But the defendant pleaded not guilty.

The NSCDC prosecutor, Barr. M. I Osimen who told the court that he would be calling three witnesses to testify in the case, applied for a date to enable him study the case file.

Lawyer for the defendant, Anthony Olagundoye, applied for the bail of the defendant in most liberal terms.

Magistrate Charity Adeyanju  granted the defendant bail in the sum of N3million with two sureties in like sum. She adjourned the case till June 13, 2022, for a hearing.

The Magistrate had  earlier ordered the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ondo State Headquarters  in Akure, Mr Okoro Eweka and one Mr Ajiboye, to produce the defendant in court yesterday.

Magistrate Adeyanju, gave the order following an Ex-parte motion brought by Mr Anthony Olagundoye, on behalf of the defendant, Kehinde Adebayo, against his continued detention.

The applicant, through his counsel, had sought the order of the court directing the NSCDC to produce the applicant because he had been detained since May 1, 2022.

The applicant’s lawyer said Kehinde was detained over the contract awarded to him to fix windows in the building of the Oyo State Command, which he failed  to  complete.