Court remands suspected fake lawyer over forgery in Osun

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Oruhu Emmanuel Odey, a suspected fraudulent lawyer, has been placed on detention by a Magistrate Court in Osogbo, Osun State, due to allegations of fraud and forgery.

Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara arraigned the defendant on a four-count complaint that included forgery, fraud, theft, and impersonation.

Saheed Anifowose, the prosecution’s attorney, informed the judge that “between December 15, 2020, and May 9, 2021, the defendant falsely paraded himself as a lawyer to deceive one Dr. Olujuwon Philips Towoju into purchasing two houses at Oroki Estate, Osogbo.”

The act violated Section 109 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State, he claimed.

Additionally, the prosecutor said that “Odey fraudulently obtained N18.5 million from Dr. Towoju under the pretence of facilitating the property transaction as a legal practitioner, contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code.”

Additionally, he was charged with stealing the same amount from Dr. Towoju, which is against Section 383 of the Criminal Code and punishable by Section 390(9) of the Laws of Osun State.

He also revealed that “Odey allegedly forged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) stamp and seal, which he affixed to a petition written to the Commissioner of Police at the Ogun State Command.”

The act violated Section 467 of the Criminal Code, according to the prosecutor.

Unrepresented in court, the defendant entered a not guilty plea to all of the counts.

Odey acknowledged that the accused had previously appeared before him in 2020 during the COVID-19 era, as remembered by Magistrate Ayilara.

In response to the magistrate’s questions, Odey revealed that he is a law student at Benue State University at the moment.

The NBA, Osogbo Branch was well-represented during the court session, with six additional attorneys representing the association, including former chairman Yemi Abiona and current chairman Mauruf Adediran.

The NBA is named in the case as a notional complaint.

Magistrate Ayilara postponed the case until October 21 for mention and ordered that Odey be placed under remand at the Ilesa Correctional Center.

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