Lawyer Father, Son Docked Over Alleged Fraud In Osun

By Grace Isaac

An Osun state-based lawyer, Mathew Ayelagbe Laogun and his son, Barrister Ayodele Adelaja Laogun, were on Thursday, docked at the Federal High Court, Osogbo, for alleged fraud.

The two accused lawyers, according to the prosecutor, are facing a case of Advance Fee Fraud being prosecuted by the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Zone X1.

When the case was called on Thursday, the old man and his son entered the dock, but, Osun state Ministry of Justice prevented the reading of their charge to take their plea.

A counsel from the state Ministry, Mr. Adekunle Adeniyi, announced his appearance to take over the matter from the Federal High Court to the state.

He noted that the court has directed the state to produce the fiat (authority), that guaranteed the state to take over the matter, saying that he has brought the fiat.

But, the Prosecutor, O/C Legal, Zone XI Police Headquarter, James Olajide Famuyini, DSP, argued that the state can not take over the matter under the state Attorney General.

He said the purported fiat brought by the state Ministry was not in reference to the case before the court.

Famuyini submitted that only counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice can take over the case pursuant to section 174 of the constitution, insisting that the case is a federal legislation and “this is a case of Advance Fee Fraud.

A principal state counsel, Mr. Moses Faremi, immediately took over the matter and informed the court that there is a general fiat from the office of the Attorney General of Osun state, to take over any matter.

He said the general fiat has guaranteed the state Ministry under the Attorney General of the state, to take over any matter from the federal high Court.

The Prosecutor said the move to take over the case has raised the suspicion that the state want to jeopardize the case, submitting that “I urge the court to continue the hearing of this matter.

Justice Onyetenu however directed the prosecutor to write to the Attorney General of the Federation for directive to continue to prosecute the case or hand over to the state.