The trial of one Itopa Peter Adogun who has practiced law in
Ilorin for 10 years with the name “Barrister I. T. David” and
allegedly won cases at the Supreme Court of Nigeria took dramatic
turn on the 21st June 2017 when the lead prosecutor, Ayoola Idowu
Akande, Chief State Counsel informed the Court that the matter was
for hearing and he has 5 witnesses in court and they were
ready.
The Accused Fake Lawyer suddenly became frightened and sought
the permission of the court to consult with his lawyer, Abdul
Gegele Esq. his permission was granted. He later informed the Court
that he has decided to change his plea from not guilty to the plea
of guilt. The Chief Magistrate Court presided by Mrs. I. O.
Olawoyin ordered that the First Information Report (FIR) be read
again to the Accused person. Thereafter, the Accused admitted that
he is not a lawyer and he has been practicing as a lawyer within
Ilorin and environs. He also admitted that he has being wearing
robes of lawyers to appear at the Superior Courts with the name I.
T. David Esq.
The fake lawyer also confessed to the allegations of certificate
and identity theft but constantly denied the allegation of
resistance or obstruction of arrest levied against him. The
prosecution later sought for an adjournment to substitute the FIR
to enable speedy dispensation of the matter which was granted by
the Court.
THENIGERIALAWYER recalls
that on 7th January 2017, Itopa was arrested by the Police of the
Kwara State Command for certificate and identity theft in the state
capital, following a petition written to the police on behalf of
the Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association by its legal
adviser, Oyetunji Ojuokaiye. Apart from appearing in local courts,
Investigation revealed that he had also appeared in a number of
cases in the Supreme Court.
According to the police the Accused person was arrested while
appearing before an Area Court in Adewole, Ilorin. He was granted
police bail but jumped, however, rearrested on the roof top of his
house on 7th January, 2017. “It was discovered that the accused had
falsely taken the credentials of one Inufin David Taiwo, an
Abuja-based lawyer, under the guise of helping him to secure job in
an oil company, only to come to Ilorin to begin law practice as a
legal practitioner with the photocopies of the certificate. It was
further revealed that “the suspect has practised as a legal
practitioner and appeared in several matters at all levels of
Nigerian courts, up to the Supreme Court, winning several cases in
the process.
“Found in his possession at the point of arrest included
complete legal practitioner’s robe, legal books, complimentary
cards, copies of legal processes filed in several courts and other
incriminating items relating to his fraudulent legal practice.
“The owner of the certificates, who claimed to know the suspect,
said that Adogun was a client at the office where he observed the
mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps.” Counsel to the
Accused person Abdul Gegele withdrew his appearance for the Accused
and the case was adjourned to 6th July 2017.
The trial of one Itopa Peter Adogun who has practiced law in
Ilorin for 10 years with the name “Barrister I. T. David” and
allegedly won cases at the Supreme Court of Nigeria took dramatic
turn on the 21st June 2017 when the lead prosecutor, Ayoola Idowu
Akande, Chief State Counsel informed the Court that the matter was
for hearing and he has 5 witnesses in court and they were
ready.
The Accused Fake Lawyer suddenly became frightened and sought
the permission of the court to consult with his lawyer, Abdul
Gegele Esq. his permission was granted. He later informed the Court
that he has decided to change his plea from not guilty to the plea
of guilt. The Chief Magistrate Court presided by Mrs. I. O.
Olawoyin ordered that the First Information Report (FIR) be read
again to the Accused person. Thereafter, the Accused admitted that
he is not a lawyer and he has been practicing as a lawyer within
Ilorin and environs. He also admitted that he has being wearing
robes of lawyers to appear at the Superior Courts with the name I.
T. David Esq.
The fake lawyer also confessed to the allegations of certificate
and identity theft but constantly denied the allegation of
resistance or obstruction of arrest levied against him. The
prosecution later sought for an adjournment to substitute the FIR
to enable speedy dispensation of the matter which was granted by
the Court.
THENIGERIALAWYER recalls
that on 7th January 2017, Itopa was arrested by the Police of the
Kwara State Command for certificate and identity theft in the state
capital, following a petition written to the police on behalf of
the Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association by its legal
adviser, Oyetunji Ojuokaiye. Apart from appearing in local courts,
Investigation revealed that he had also appeared in a number of
cases in the Supreme Court.
According to the police the Accused person was arrested while
appearing before an Area Court in Adewole, Ilorin. He was granted
police bail but jumped, however, rearrested on the roof top of his
house on 7th January, 2017. “It was discovered that the accused had
falsely taken the credentials of one Inufin David Taiwo, an
Abuja-based lawyer, under the guise of helping him to secure job in
an oil company, only to come to Ilorin to begin law practice as a
legal practitioner with the photocopies of the certificate. It was
further revealed that “the suspect has practised as a legal
practitioner and appeared in several matters at all levels of
Nigerian courts, up to the Supreme Court, winning several cases in
the process.
“Found in his possession at the point of arrest included
complete legal practitioner’s robe, legal books, complimentary
cards, copies of legal processes filed in several courts and other
incriminating items relating to his fraudulent legal practice.
“The owner of the certificates, who claimed to know the suspect,
said that Adogun was a client at the office where he observed the
mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps.” Counsel to the
Accused person Abdul Gegele withdrew his appearance for the Accused
and the case was adjourned to 6th July 2017.