‘Fake Lawyer’ Remanded In Osun Prison For Alleged Fraud
A Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Wednesday, remanded an alleged fake lawyer, Oruhu Emmanuel Odey, in Ilesa Correctional Centre.
Odey who was arraigned on a four-count charge of impersonation, fraud, stealing, and forgery by the police, was alleged to have duped one man to the tune of N18.5m.
The defendant was said to had between December 15, 2020, and May 9, 2021, falsely paraded himself as a lawyer to deceive the victim into purchasing two houses at Oroki Estate, Osogbo.
Odey was recently arrested by operatives from the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone XI, Osogbo.
During the court proceedings, prosecutor, Mr. Saheed Anifowose, also alleged Odey of forging the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) stamp and seal, affixing them to a petition he wrote to the Commissioner of Police at the Ogun State Command.
According to the prosecutor, the offence is contrary to Sections 109, 419, 383, and 467
of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State.
The defendant, who had no legal representation in court, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
However, Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara recalled that the accused had once appeared before him in 2020 during the COVID-19 period, a fact Odey admitted.
Magistrate Ayilara, in his ruling, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till October 21 for mention.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
