Operatives of the Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested three lawyers for allegedly defrauding Pastor Adetunji Adedoyin of his property worth N20 million.
The suspects are Salman Rafiu, Sulyman Abaya and Saka Hammed.
Their accomplices on the run include Olarewaju Aluko and Na’ Allah Suyuti.
Adedoyin, the petitioner, alleged that the suspects fraudulently obtained a court order through a false representation and sold the property without his consent.
He also alleged that the lawyers did not allow him to brief them to defend him in the legal proceedings they instituted.
He said: “I was informed that I was served summons through the
court proceedings, whereas it was R. A. Salman who picked and arranged his colleagues, Abaya Sulyman and Saka Hammed to stand for me and these lawyers forged my signature on some documents purporting to consent in court to the sale of my hostel.
“The truth of the matter is, I never set my eyes on these people (lawyers) prior to or during the court proceedings, neither did I participate directly or indirectly in the proceedings. I was also not
aware of the proceedings from the beginning to the end.
“Earlier in 2016, after seeking advice on what to do, I engaged a lawyer, Victor Okojie, in Ilorin to pursue justice for me because attempts I made failed. Victor Okojie later linked me up with the buyer, Na’ Allah and the buyer’s lawyer, Ayodele Aluko Olarewaju. The buyer felt my pain and explained that he had spent about N12.5 million for the acquisition of my property. He said he was willing to release it only if I could pay back the money.”
The petitioner further said he was able to pay N4.2 million into the buyer’s account in order to recover the property,
which they released to him at that time.
“The hostel was taken over again in March 2019 by the alleged buyer, Mr. Na’ Allah, through his lawyer, Aluko Olarewaju, on the grounds that I have not paid the outstanding balance,” he said
It was gathered that the suspects initially denied the allegations against them when confronted by the operatives of the EFCC with some forged documents that emanated from the petitioner.
EFCC source said efforts are on to arrest other suspects.