26-year-old Adewole Sikiru Balogun, who claimed to be a lawyer, was on Tuesday arraigned at the Chief Magistrate’s Court One, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo, on a count charge of impersonation.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
The defendant, resident in Aerodrome Estate, Samonda, Ibadan, was charged to court by the Iyaganku Area Command of the Oyo State Police Command for falsely claiming to be a legal practitioner.
Balogun was alleged to have stood as a guarantor in his self-acclaimed capacity as a lawyer for his girlfriend, currently pregnant, who was arrested for embezzling the money of a company which employed her.
The suit, with charge number MI154C/2023, read: “That you Balogun Adewole ‘m’ on the 2nd day of May 2022, at Tee-Mag Micro Credit Company, Dugbe, Ibadan, in the Ibadan Magisterial District, did falsely represent yourself as a legal practitioner called to the Nigerian Bar Association since 2020, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.”
Two lawyers, Aderibigbe Simeon and Sunday Adediran, stood in for the defendant at the court, while the Investigating Police Officer was Inspector Ọbajọbi Adebọboye.
The defendant had pleaded not guilty, after which Chief Magistrate E.A. Idowu presiding over the case granted him N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
The case was adjourned until February 1 for further hearing.
Our correspondent learned the false claim by the accused was discovered by the Iyaganku Area Commander, ACP Abiodun Onuoha when he was reported by a micro-credit company of signing as a guarantor to his girlfriend who defrauded the company’s customers of over a million naira.
On the guarantor’s form, Balogun claimed his occupation and profession as a barrister and solicitor and his job grade as a legal advocate.
After the non-response of the wife to calls by the company to come and give account of the money she collected as contributions and loan returns from customers, Balogun allegedly bragged about being a lawyer.
However, he could not respond to questions asked by the Area Commander when he claimed to be a law graduate of the University of Ibadan.
Also, he could not present facts and documents to back his claims.
At first, he was said to have given his year of graduation from UI as 2018, but later changed it to 2019, while he claimed he was called to bar in 2020.
The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209.
______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
Bonus:
Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.
How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626
________________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
