Ilorin – No fewer than  22  police recruits undergoing training at the Police Training College, Ilorin appeared before different magistrate courts on Friday   for allegedly using fake documents to secure employment.

The accused persons were arraigned on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and using as true a certificate known to be false,  contrary to sections 97, 363,132 163 of the penal code law.

The prosecuting counsel, Insp. David Wodi and Sgt. Mathew Ologbonsaye, told the respective courts that the accused were arrested after a screening  where  their certificates were discovered to be  forged.

However, all of  the accused persons  in separate pleas pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The prosecutor told the courts that investigation into the case was ongoing and urged the court to remand them in prison pending the completion of investigation.

Mr Shina Ibiyemi, the Director of  the Legal Aid Council in Kwara, who represented the accused persons, pleaded  for their bail on liberal terms.

He told the court that section 36 (5) of the penal code law still presumed the accused innocent until the contrary was  proven.

Ibiyemi  added that the accused persons would present reliable sureties.

In his ruling, Magistrate Wahab Saka granted 11 of them bail in the sum of  N50,000 and a surety each while Magistrate Shuaib Olanikewu granted bail to the other 11 accused under  similar bail bond.

Olanikewu, however, added that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means before the court registrar.

The magistrates adjourned the cases till April 12 and April 14 in their respective courts. (NAN)