Lagos businessman Oketola Benson Adewole has accused his former lawyer, Ironsi Emmanuel Okoroafor, of allegedly defrauding him of N73 million under the guise of securing a land title.
Testifying before Justice Olubusola Okunuga at the Lagos Special Offences Court, Adewole detailed how Okoroafor, who had previously handled legal matters for him, convinced him to regularize documents for his four plots of land at Gedegede Waterfront, Lekki.
According to Adewole, Okoroafor arranged for a surveyor, Peter Tyson, to inspect the land.
Relying on his lawyer’s advice, Adewole stated that he made multiple payments, starting with N18 million for the survey process.
Additional amounts, he stated, included N2 million for ministry changes, N50 million for processing a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), and N3 million for fast-tracking the process.
The complainant posited that upon the request for receipts and documentation, he was met with delays and excuses.
Adewole maintained that his suspicions grew after a visit to the Lagos Lands Registry at Alausa, where he discovered that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had not issued a C of Os for two years.
Feeling deceived, Adewole revealed that he confronted Okoroafor and later filed a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), leading to the court case.
During cross-examination by Okoroafor’s lawyer, James Babatunde Alara, Adewole stood by his claims.
Justice Okunuga adjourned the trial to April 10, 2025, for further proceedings.
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