The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Office has arrested three legal practitioners for allegedly defrauding a Pastor, Adetunji Adedoyin of his property valued at about N20million.
The accused lawyers are Salman Rafiu, Sulyman Abaya and Saka Hammed while two others who are at large are Olarewaju Aluko and Mr Na’ Allah Suyuti, the anti-graft agency said.
The petitioner alleged that the suspects fraudulently obtained a Court Order through a false representation and sold the property without his consent or briefing them to defend him in the legal proceedings which they instituted.
He alleged that “I was informed that I was served summons all through the court proceedings whereas it was R.A Salman who picked and arranged his colleagues, Abaya Sulyman and Saka Hammed to stand for me and these lawyers forged my signature on some documents purporting to consent in court to the sale of my hostel.”
Adedoyin stated further that “The truth of the matter is, I never set my eyes on these people prior to or during the court proceedings, neither did I participate directly or indirectly in the proceedings, I also was not aware of the proceedings from the beginning to the end.”
“Earlier in 2016, after seeking advice on what to do, I engaged a lawyer, Victor Okojie, in Ilorin to pursue justice for me because all attempts I made failed; Victor Okojie later linked me with the buyer, Mr Na’ Allah and the buyer’s lawyer, Ayodele Aluko Olarewaju, the buyer felt my pain and explained that he has expanded about N12.5 million for the acquisition of my property, he said he was willing to release it only if I can pay back the money.”
The petitioner further explained that he was able to pay the sum of N4.2 million to the buyer’s account in order to recover the stolen property which they released for him as at that time.
“The hostel was taken over again in March 2019 by the alleged buyer Mr Na’ Allah through his lawyer, Aluko Olanrewaju on the grounds that I have not paid the outstanding balance.”
The suspects had earlier denied all the allegations against them. But they later confessed to the crime when the operatives of the EFCC confronted them with some forged documents which they claimed emanated from the petitioner.
The principal suspect in the case, Barrister Salman Rafiu were shown an affidavit prepared by them and purportedly signed by the petitioner.
Meanwhile, EFCC said efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects indicted.
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