EFCC arrests lawyer over alleged N7m land scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin zonal office, Thursday arrested a legal practitioner, Akeem Jimoh, for alleged N7 million land scam.

The land, it was learnt, belonged to his client, Alhaji Saka Kareem Oladele.

EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, in a statement disclosed that Oladele in his petition to the EFCC alleged that he gave a power of attorney to Jimoh to sell his 35 plots of land, out of which he sold 20 plots to one Mr. Michael Jolaiya.

In the statement, Oladele according to Orilade said, “That Barrister Jimoh after deducting his commissions on the 20 plots refused to remit the money realised from the sales to him.

“Jimoh, he also alleged, having prepared a sale of land agreement for the 20 plots, still went ahead and fraudulently resold the plots of land to an unsuspecting buyer who have been erecting illegal structures on them, including the 15 plots that are yet to be sold.

“Despite all persuasions and attempts to settle this matter amicably with Mr. Akeem Jimoh, he had turned deaf ears to wise counsel and believes that he is above the law. He has also boasted to deal with him.”

But the suspect during interrogation in the commission reportedly admitted that the petitioner gave him power of attorney to sell the plots of land.

The lawyer was also quoted to have said, “The land was handed over to me by Alhaji Saka Oladele via power of attorney dated 2004 to sell his 35 plots of land, situated at Tanker Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, but there was no specific amount mentioned in the power of attorney as at that time.”

Orilade said the suspect would soon be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.