An Ikeja Special Offences Court has heard how a lawyer, Emmanuel Ironsi Okoroafor, allegedly defrauded his client, Oketola Adewole, of N73 million under the pretext of perfecting a land title in Lagos.
How the Fraud Unfolded
The complainant, Adewole, a businessman and fisherman, testified before Justice Olubusola Okunuga, stating that Okoroafor was his lawyer and was introduced to him by a police officer named Paul Adeyemi.
- Prior Legal Dealings:
- The defendant had handled multiple legal matters for Adewole, including drafting agreements and assisting with an EFCC case in Abuja.
- The Land Title Scheme:
- Adewole owns four plots of land at Gedegede Waterfront, Lekki.
- The defendant advised that he needed to perfect the land title before developing it.
- Okoroafor offered to handle the documentation process, claiming he would involve a surveyor from the Surveyor-General’s office.
- The Fake Surveyor and Payment Demands:
- A man named Peter Tyson, allegedly from the Surveyor-General’s office, inspected the land alongside Okoroafor.
- Tyson demanded N35 million for the survey and documentation.
- When Adewole said he could not afford the amount, Tyson reduced it to N18 million.
- Okoroafor insisted the payment should not be made directly to Tyson’s account, raising suspicions.
EFCC’s Involvement
- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Okoroafor, accusing him of fraud and misrepresentation.
- Prosecution counsel Ahmad Usman is leading the case, alleging that Okoroafor deliberately misled his client and collected large sums of money without delivering the promised services.
Current Court Proceedings
- Adewole is still testifying against Okoroafor, detailing how he trusted the lawyer but was ultimately scammed.
- The case is ongoing, and the court is set to hear more evidence on how the funds were disbursed and misused.
The matter highlights growing concerns over real estate fraud and legal malpractice in Nigeria, with authorities urging strict enforcement of property and financial laws.
