Corruption: EFCC docks lawyer over land fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ilorin has arraigned a Legal Practitioner, Akeem Jimoh, before a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on a one count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence.

Barrister Jimoh was arraigned before the Court Presided by Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar.

The accused person allegedly received various sum of monies under the pretence of helping people to buy land within Ilorin Metropolis but diverted the money for his personal use.

The charge reads, “That you, Barrister Akeem Jimoh, sometime in August, 2011 in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of the honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) from one Mr Ogunleye Dare Benjamin on the pretence that you have one plot of land (behind Alao Farm, Tanke Area, Ilorin, Kwara State) which you knew to be false punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud Related Offences Act No.14 of 2006.

When the charge was read, the lawyer pleaded not guilty.

Defence Counsel, V. O. Aluko who led five other lawyers however moved an oral application for bail pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

He argued that the offence allegedly committed by the accused legal Practitioner is bailable.

But prosecuting lawyer, Sesan Ola, opposed the oral application for bail, insisting that the proper bail application is yet to be filed before the court.

Ola urged the Presiding Judge to remand the accused person in prison custody and order accelerated hearing of the matter.

Justice Abdulgafar however over ruled the oral application for bail and ordered the accused Person to remanded in the custody of the EFCC.

The case has been adjourned till Monday July 15, 2019 for hearing of the bail application.