Two lawyers Feranmi Isaiah Akinluyi and Sogo Akinola, a.k.a Obaje, suspected to have defrauded one Kelechi Okani Darlington of the sum of 11,880,000 naira have been granted bail.
This is the ruling by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja following the bail application of the duo.
The court, yesterday granted temporary reprieve in the sum of 10 million naira previously granted them in a similar case before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo.
The reprieve came on the premise that the suspects have not denied that the complainant’s money was with them.
However, the complainant in his evidence alleged that he engaged the service of a lawyer Feranmi Isaiah Akinluyi to purchase a land and rent a duplex for him in Lekki following his arrival in Nigeria on 26th November, 2016.
He told the court from the witness box that the said lawyer was contracted for three properties but delivered just one.
He accused the suspects of collecting 2 million 550 thousands for an accommodation including agency fees, said to be paid into the bank account of Sogo Akinluyi Fashein Legal.
He added that his father, Mr. Aaron Njoku also made some bank transfers in the sum of 9 million Naira to buy a land for his warehouse.
The plaintiff stated that the defendants swindled him in the total sum of 11,880,000 Naira.
His words, “I also contracted him to rent a warehouse to offload all the equipment imported for my business for the cost of 700,000 naira which he did, but we were waiting for the registered survey copy of the land paid for on the 24th June, 2016.
“He kept us waiting, promising that Barrister Kunle Obaje a legal person to the Ojomu Royal family which he told us were the first settlers and landlord of the land paid for.
Continuing, he said the defendant’s reason for the delay in delivering to be that the Ojomu king was ill and flown to Dubai.
“I asked him if the king has somebody else to effect the signature on his behalf, he told me the king flew to Dubai with the lawyer that is Barrister Kunle Obaje.
“I asked him if I should go to Dubai and meet Barrister Obaje and Ojomu the king. He nonchalantly said yes, so I went to Dubai.
He said his trip to Dubai was fruitless because Obaje was incommunicado and he was informed by Feranmi that the king was also on his way to America.
His effort to recover his money from Feranmi was said to be met with stories that he was busy and that he has issues with his bank.
“My Lord, till date, I don’t understand where he is keeping my funds.”
“This has made businesses collapsed, lives languishing in hunger and suffering, staff employed are petitioning me, defaming my name, my business name.
He explained further that his transactions with him were done through bank transfers, excluding cash gifts and unrefunded cash given to him.
Trial to be continued on June 4 this year.
