Court remands lawyer over alleged land fraud in Ilorin

THE State High Court, Ilorin, on Friday ordered the remand of a legal practitioner Akeem Jimoh, for alleged land fraud.

The presiding Judge Mahmud Abdulgafar, gave the ruling when the prosecuting counsel, Mr Sessan Ola, overruled the oral application for bail made by the defence counsel V. O Aluko.

Abdulgafar ordered the defendant to be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The case was adjourned until July 15, for hearing on the bail application.

The prosecuting counsel told the court that the accused person was arraigned on a one-count charge, bordering on obtaining money under false pretence.

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Ola said that the defendant allegedly received various sums of money under the pretence of helping people to buy property within Ilorin metropolis, but diverted the money to his personal use.

He said that sometimes in Aug. 2011, with intent to defraud, the defendant obtained the sum of N150, 000 from one Ogunleye Benjamin, claiming that a plot of land behind Alao Farm, Tanke Area, was for sale.

The prosecutor said Akeem, however, knew the information was false.

He said the defendant committed an offence contrary and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Jimoh, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Aluko, who led five other lawyers, had moved an oral application for bail, pending hearing and determination of the matter.

He argued that the offence allegedly committed by his client was bailable.

The prosecutor opposed the oral application for bail, insisting that the proper one was yet to be filed before the court.