AN Ibadan based 53-year-old lawyer, Daranijo Adeniyi Ajibola, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Iyaganku in Ibadan on a two-count charge of defrauding a man identified as Femi Olaniyan of the sum of six million naira and for fraudulent conversion.
Daranijo who was arraigned before Chief Magistrate A.A. Adebisi, was alleged to have defrauded Olaniyan on the pretence of selling him a landed property while knowing that his claims were false.
The two-count charge prepared by SP (Barr) Fawole Funke, the O/C legal/prosecution of Oyo state police command, alleged that Daranijo between June and July 10, 2017 at Dugbe in the Ibadan Magisterial District with intent to defraud obtained the sum of six million naira from Femi Laniyan under the pretence of selling a landed property while knowing same to be false.
The offence according to the prosecution is contrary to and punishable under section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol 11, laws of Oyo state Nigeria, 2000.
Daranijo was also alleged to have on the same date and time in the same magisterial district fraudulently converted the sum of six million naira which is property of Mr Femi Laniyan to his personal use thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under section 390(9) OF THE Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol11, Laws of Oyo state of Nigeria 2000.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
In his written statement on oath, Laniyan had averred that an estate agent that he asked to help him scout for property around Onireke area of Ibadan with the aim of purchasing same had introduced Barrister Daranijo to him and he had shown him several properties after which he settled for one belonging to ambassador Ezekiel Oladeji and he gave a deed of conveyance registered as 18/18/3413.
According to him, Daranijo claimed to have the authority of the owner to transact on his behalf as he needed the money for his wife’s medical treatment and only accepted N43m instead of the asking price of N45m, he therefore paid N43m into Daranijo’s account after which he became elusive and was coming up with diverse stories.
Laniyan averred further that the lawyer insisted he should add N2m to the money paid before the documentation for the transfer and original documents will be handed over to him but he only agreed to pay N1m and after this nothing came forth till he went on vacation in August and he demanded a refund, adding that he had to inform the police before the lawyer refunded N37m out of the money he paid, promising to pay the remaining which he admitted in his statement before the police that he had used to secure accommodation in Alalubosa GRA.
A civil suit was also filed against Daranijo at the High Court but he had allegedly refused to appear in the suit delineated I/1211/2017 despite several hearing notices.
Laniyan in his statement on oath further claimed that based on the information that Daranijo is planning to relocate from the country without paying his money, he had written a petition to the disciplinary committee of the Nigerian Bar association to help him recover his money.
Laniyan alleged that when contacted, the owner of the property stated clearly that he never gave the lawyer the mandate to sell his properties.
The case before the magistrate court was adjourned till December 13, 2017 for hearing.
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