Ondo lawyer arraigned for ‘forging’ dead man’s will

An Ondo-based legal practitioner, Olusegun Agunloye, has been remanded for allegedly forging the will of a dead man in the state.

The decease, identified as Benjamin Chibuzor Ejelonu, was a client of the lawyer before his death.

However, Agunloye, who was dragged before an Akure division of the Chief Magistrates’ Court, was accused of presenting the fake testamentary instruments (will) of the late Ejelonu.

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The lawyer, whose address was not provided in the court, was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and forgery by the police.

Nelson Akintimehin, a police prosecutor in the case, briefed the court that the defendant committed the offence on September 7, 2023.

Akintimehin stated that the lawyer also reportedly conspired with the sister of the deceased, Aminat Ijeoma Bakare, who is currently facing trial in charge number MAK/372C2024 in the same court.

He said Bakare, 72, conspired with the legal practitioner to forge the will of the deceased and lodged it at the Probate Registry of the State High Court in Akure.

The offence contravened Sections 516 and 467(2)(f) of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2006.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to both counts.

However, Akintimehin requested an adjournment of the case to enable him to assemble his witnesses and consolidate the two charges before the court.

The defence counsel, Kehinde Osadugbe, urged the court to grant his client bail on self-recognisance as a practising lawyer.

He said that the alleged offence was committed in the course of the defendant performing his legal duty as a lawyer.

While objecting to the defence lawyer’s application, the prosecutor argued that the defendant was a flight risk if granted bail.

He added that he had previously abused the administrative bail granted to him at the police station on self-recognisance.

In his verdict, Magistrate Kolawole Aro granted the legal practitioner bail in the sum of N2,000,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The magistrate adjourned the case until September 26, for hearing and the consolidation of the cases.