LEGAL: Eyinatayo Iluyomade, a 19-year-old Lagos-based comedian has been sentenced to prison for playing pranks by dropping a threat note of robbery at the counter of FirstBank, in Ondo town, Ondo State.
Police filed three charges against Iluyomade, including one for conspiracy and two for making threats and acting in a way that might compromise national security.
The defendant left a note at the bank stating that his armed robbery gang members would arrive to rob the bank at 1 pm on the same date, according to police prosecutor Akao Moremi, who testified in court.
The Sabo branch of FirstBank in Ondo town, according to Moremi, was under threat of a security breach, and the notice also forced all banks operating in Ondo to close for the entire day.
The accused entered a not guilty plea to the accusation leveled against him.
However, Hawkins Akinnugba, the defendant’s defense attorney, requested the defendant’s bail under the most lenient terms possible.
However, the police prosecutor opposed the bail application because the defendant would tamper with the purpose of the investigation because there were other criminal components to the threat.
The bail application was denied by the trial magistrate, Mosunmola Ikujuni, pending the arrest of additional criminal gang members.
In the trial magistrate, Mosunmola Ikujuni’s words:
“If on the next adjournment date the prosecution has not yet apprehended all other criminals implicated in the matter, the court will take the appropriate action.”
She, therefore, adjourned the case for ruling on the bail application.
However, the defendant informed the court that he is a comedian and that the note he left at the FirstBank was a joke, adding that he previously performed this in Lagos before moving to Ondo town.
However, the defendant informed the court that he is a comedian and that the message he left at the FirstBank was a joke, adding that he previously performed this in Lagos before moving to Ondo town.
According to him:
“This is the first time am playing the prank in Ondo.”
He added:
” There is no other gang that wanted to rob the bank as it was written in the note”
Iluyomade, therefore, pleaded with the court to forgive him and promised not to play such a prank again.
