AUGIE JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This appeal turns on a narrow issue of bail. The appellant and the 2nd and 3rd respondents were arraigned before the Lagos State High Court, and charged with sundry offences, including conspiracy to and obtaining money by false pretences, stealing, and money laundering. He pleaded not guilty to counts 1 to 6 and 15 of the 19-count charge on 7 July 2014. On that day, 7 July 2014, a joint application for their bail dated 23 June 2014, was moved, and the lower court reserved ruling thereon until 8 July 2014, and ordered that the “accused be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison.” On 29 September 2014, learned counsel re-adopted their arguments, and in his ruling delivered that day, the learned trial judge, Lawal-Akapo, J., held -
“Paragraphs 8, 9, 11, 12, 18, and 19 of the respondent’s counter-affidavit are very germane. They are hereby reproduced...Failure of the applicants to file a reply to these serious and nostalgic averments amounted in law …