By Adebayo Saalahudeen
One of the senior members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch, Barrister Muhammed Owolabi Aminu, was docked with three others for allegedly defrauding one S.T Buhari to the tune of N4million.
The lawyer with his accomplice, Saliu Atanda, Muhammed Olarewaju Yaluma and Bamigboye Oluwafemi Adetayo allegedly sold 6 plots of land belonging to several other persons to the complainant.
According to the complaint before the court, Buhari was introduced by Adetayo to Atanda and Yaluma sometime in 2020.
The lawyer (Aminu) who acted as solicitor reportedly said he was empowered to act as so, for anyone buying the land to avoid any problem of forgery.
The complainant was reportedly lured and deceived to pay the sum of N4million with the belief that the land belongs to the Yaluma family, (one of the defendants) and there is no dispute on it.
Afterward, the direct complaint revealed that the 6 plot of land was delivered to Buhari at Balogun, Oke-Omo, Yaluma, village, Tanke, Oke-Odo, Ilorin.
Meanwhile, further findings by the complainant’s brother, later revealed that the parcel of land in question has a pending litigation case with the lawyer Aminu, being the counsel in the matter before the High Court of Justice.
The complainant was reportedly confronted by the certificate of occupancy by two different people claiming to be the original owners of the portion of land purportedly sold to him.
In order to ensure peace, Buhari reportedly sought the allocation of another land but the defendants were said not to be ready to give him nor return his money.
Counsel to the defendant, while praying the court for the bail of his clients, relied on section 1(1)(c), 167&172 of Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) and section 35 of the constitution.
He submitted further that the defendants won’t jump bail or temper with the investigation regarding their matters and will provide reliable sureties.
On his part, the complainant counsel, Barrister Usman Kola Belgore, objected to the bail application on the ground that counsel for the defendants failed to place reliable facts before the court saying bail is not granted in vacuum.
Belgore referred the court to the Court of Appeal case of RAJAB v.State (2010) LPELR-5001 (ca) adding that it must be established that the defendants will not run away from justice or they will always be ready to stand trial.
Complainant counsel, while referring the court to already cited section 172 (2) of the ACJL, saying, “Alternatively, if the court is inclined to admit the defendants to bail, the sum of N4, million must be deposited as one of the conditions of bail.
Magistrate Bello, who presided over the matter, admitted lawyer Aminu to bail on the basis that he’s a legal practitioner while others were ordered to be remanded in Correctional Service Centre.
The matter was, however, adjourned to 29th March 2021.
