By Kayode Adeoti
Barr. Akeen Jimoh, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch, who is currently standing trial before a Kwara State High Court, will today know his fate over the bail application moved by his counsel.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal office arraigned the legal practitioner,ย on a one count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence before Justice Mahmud AbdulGafar.
At the last adjourned date, the defence counsel, V. O Aluko who led five other lawyers moved an oral application for bail pending the hearing and determination of the matter.
He argued that the offence allegedly committed by his client is ordinarily bailable.
On his part, the prosecuting counsel, Sesan Ola opposed the oral application for bail, insisting that it is yet to be properly filed before the court.
Ola urged the presiding judge to remand the defendant in prison custody and order accelerated hearing of the matter.
Justice Abdulgafar, in his short ruling, ruled the oral application for bail and ordered the remand of the defendant in EFCC custody while the matter is adjourned till today (Monday) for hearing of the bail application.
Meanwhile, according to the charge sheet, the defendant allegedly received various some of monies under the pretence of helping people to buy land within Ilorin metropolis but diverted the money for his personal use.
The charge reads; โThat you, Barrister Akeem Jimoh, sometime in August, 2011 in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of the honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N150,000.00 (One hundred and fifty thousand naira)ย from one Mr Ogunleye Dare Benjamin on the false that one plot of land (behind Alao Farm, Tanke Area, Ilorin, Kwara State) which you knew to be false punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud Related Offences Act No.14 of 2006.
When the charge was read, the lawyer pleaded not guilty.
Recall that the defendant was arrested by the anti-graft agency in April over alleged N7million land scam.
He was accused of fraudulently selling 20 plots of land belonging to his client, one Alhaji Saka Kareem Oladele.
In a statement by the commission spokesperson then, Tony Orilade, disclosed that Oladele gave the defendant power of attorney to sell his 35 plot of lands, out of which he sold 20 plots to one Mr Micheal Jolaiya.
The statement further added that the lawyer 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.
Meanwhile, the NBA Chairman, Barrister Muhammed Idowu Akande who reacted to the issue then had maintained that his colleague is innocent of the offence until contrarily proven by the court.
Akande who frowned at how the picture of the suspect carrying placard was displayed on the social media added that the suspect will face NBA disciplinary action if found guilty.
“It is either EFCC tries him first or the commission recommend him for NBA disciplinary committee, the fact remains, he’s still innocent…,” NBA boss said.
