…suspect to face disciplinary action – Ilorin NBA
By Kayode Adeoti
An Ilorin- based legal practitioner, Akeem Jimoh is currently cooling his feet at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), zonal office in Ilorin, Kwara State, over alleged N7million land scam.
The suspect, who is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch was said to have fraudulently sold 20 plots of land belonging to his client, one Alhaji Saka Kareem Oladele.
The EFCC spokesperson, Tony Orilade, in a statement disclosed that Oladele in his petition to the Commission alleged that he gave a power of attorney to Jimoh to sell his 35 plots of land, out of which he sold 20 plots to one Mr. Michael Jolaiya.
In the statement, Oladele according to Orilade said, “That Barrister Jimoh after deducting his commissions on the 20 plots refused to remit the money realised from the sales to him.
“Jimoh, he also alleged, having prepared a sale of land agreement for the 20 plots, still went ahead and fraudulently resold the plots of land to an unsuspecting buyer who have been erecting illegal structures on them, including the 15 plots that are yet to be sold.
“Despite all persuasions and attempts to settle this matter amicably with Mr. Akeem Jimoh, he had turned deaf ears to wise counsel and believes that he is above the law. He has also boasted to deal with him.”
The suspect, during interrogation by the Commission was said to have admitted that the petitioner gave him power of attorney to sell the plots of land.
The lawyer was also quoted to have said, “The land was handed over to me by Alhaji Saka Oladele via power of attorney dated 2004 to sell his 35 plots of land, situated at Tanke area, Ilorin, Kwara State, but there was no specific amount mentioned in the power of attorney as at that time.”
Orilade said the suspect would soon be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Reacting to the development, in a telephone chat with our reporter, yesterday, the Ilorin NBA Chairman, Muhammed Idowu Akande said disciplinary action would be taken against the suspect if found guilty.
Akande added that though the charges against Jimoh is a criminal allegation he however said his colleague is still innocent until contrarily proven by the court.
“It’s still a criminal allegation until it is proven against him in a competent court. If the case is proven against him, he will face disciplinary action of the NBA. It is one after the other. He may lose many things, if sufficient evidences are provided against him.
“It is EFCC tries him first or the Commission recommends him for NBA disciplinary committee, the fact remains, he’s still innocent,” Akande stressed.
The Ilorin NBA however frowned at the display of suspect’s picture with placard on social media platforms.
He said, “The Bar frowned at display of suspect’s picture on social media, we saw the picture of him carrying placard online. This is unnecessary.”
