Why Seun Egbegbe's Fate Remains Hanging Inside Ikoyi Prison Almost 4yrs Since Being Granted Bail

Its now about 3 years, 8 months since he lost his freedom. When he was remanded in Ikoyi Prisons in Lagos on February 10, 2017 and after being granted bail by the trial judge, not many could imaging that controversial Yoruba filmmaker and erstwhile socialite, Olajide Kazeem, (a.k.a Seun Egbegbe) would remain an inmate inside the prison for almost 4 years, while his fate hangs in the balance as regards perfecting his bail conditions.

Egbegbe, known for his lavish and controversial lifestyle, has almost become a forgotten person. Only a few remember his predicament. A lot has happened since he got locked up. He was best described then as ex-lover of actress, Toyin Abraham. Today, Toyin is happily married with a son for her actor-hubby, Kola Ajeyemi. His then current lover (when he was arrested and charged to trial), was pregnant.

Oyenike, Egbegbe's lover delivered a baby girl in May 2017

She has since been delivered of the child and now living her life too.

The continued stay of Egbegbe inside Ikoyi Prison is quite curious because he was the toast of Yoruba movie practitioners and celebrities in his heydays. So, why was he abandoned when he needed people to save him? He was a big spender. Many actors and actresses even see him as a philanthropist then. He bought cars for some of them. He also financed the production of several Yoruba films under his Ebony Films Productions. It remains surprising that despite all that he was believed to be worth, he could not get people to stand for him so he could walk freely on bail, at least before his trial is concluded.

This is what Egbegbe could not achieve..... Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court, Lagos ruled in February 24, 2017 that he be granted bail once he meets his bail requirements. The Judge asked him to provide two sureties in the like sum of N2.5m each. “One of the sureties must be a civil servant who has attained level 16 while the other surety must be a landowner in any part of Lagos metropolis.

“The landowner must submit a Certificate of Ownership of the landed property while the civil servant must submit his international passport to the court. “The sureties must swear to an affidavit while the house and office addresses and a telephone number will be verified by the court”. It is however such an irony that since then, Egbegbe and his lawyers could not find anyone that fits the above description in the whole of Lagos.

His Crime:

Egbegbe was arraigned by the police for alleged fraud involving N39 million; $90,000 and £12,550. The police alleged that he fraudulently obtained the money from no fewer than 40 Bureau De Change operators in Lagos over a period of two years – 2015 to 2017. Egbegbe, who once managed Fuji artistes, Wale Ayinde Tekoma and Pasuma, was said to have allegedly swindled the BDC operators.

He was accused of falsely telling them he had naira to change into foreign currencies and vice versa. On March 10 2017, over 30 BDC operators stormed the court for the trial.

Towards the end of last year, his lawyer, Adebayo Onifade, told a national publication, Premium Times that his client had remained in custody because his bail conditions were yet to be perfected. Since then, not much has been heard about him again except the kwown fact that the Ikoyi Prison has been his home.

Before now, a few individuals have called out Yoruba movie and music artistes for abandoning someone they all once associated with.