A 69-year-old Ibadan based lawyer, Mr. Olakanmi Ogunyemi is cooling off at Ilesa Prison following the order of a chief magistrate court sitting in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, for allegedly defrauding his client, one Ayotunde Adekilekun of #3.1million.
Nigerian Pilot reliably gathered that the legal luminary while exercising his ‘power of Attorney’ sold a landed property at the rate of #4million to Adekilekun through his (Adekilekun) lawyer.
Investigation conducted revealed that Adekilekun had paid the sum of #3.1million to Ogunyemi but could not claim possession of the said property.
However, Adekilekun reported the matter at the police station and Ogunyemi was arrested. It was said that Ogunyemi was not the original owner of the landed property but helped the owner to sell it through his ‘power of Attorney’ as a lawyer.
According to the charge sheet, Barrister Ogunyemi who resides at 208 Obafemi Awolowo ways, Oke-Ado in Ibadan, Oyo State, defrauded Adekilekun to the tune of #3.1million with false pretence sometime in April, 2012.
The police prosecuting officer, Inspector Mireti Wilson told the court that the accused has committed offences punishable under section 516, 390(9) and section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II, laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2003.
But Barrister Ogunyemi pleaded not guilty to the two charges preferred against him. Consequently, accused counsel, Mrs. Nnenah Ngwu prayed the court to grant bail to her client on a most liberal term, contending that Ogunyemi will not escape justice if committed to bail because he (Ogunyemi) is ready to stand his trial.
Delivering his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Olusola Aluko ordered
that Ogunyemi be remanded in Ilesa prison custody till his counsel presents formal bail application to the court. Aluko thereafter adjourned the case till 8th October, 2013, for mention.
