Ayotomide Adeniyi, 36, appeared before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday for impersonating a lawyer and scamming gullible citizens of the state.
Adeniyi, who was charged with impersonating a lawyer, acquiring money under false pretenses, theft, and membership in an illegal society, pled guilty to the charges.
Elisha Olusegun, the prosecution, informed the court that between January and June 2023 in Osogbo, the defendant falsely presented himself as a lawyer to unsuspecting members of the public with the purpose to defraud.
“That you, AYOTOMIDE ADENIYI ‘M’ on the same date, time, place, and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did, with intent to defraud, unlawfully obtain the sum of thirty thousand naira (N30,000:00k) from one Ganiyu Sukurat’under the pretence of appearing for her in court as a lawyer.”
“That you, AYOTOMIDE ADENIYI ‘M, unlawfully obtained the sum of five thousand naira (N5,000:00k) from one Oyinloye Samuel’m° under the pretense of assisting him to secure his bail in court on the same date, time, place, and in the aforementioned Magisterial District with intent to defraud.”
“That you, AYOTOMIDE ADENIYI ‘M’, on the same date, time, place, and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did engage in yourself in an unlawful society known as ALORA Confraternity – a secret cult.”
The offenses committed were said to be in violation of and punishable by Section 484 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II, Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. I, Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.Il,l and Section 64 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. Il laws of Osun State, Nigeria,a 2002.
The presiding magistrate, Dr. Olusegun Ayilara, adjourned the case till July 24 for sentencing after the defendant, who had no legal representation, pled guilty to all counts.