The Lagos State Government has arraigned two legal practitioners, Ademola Owolabi and Adebayo Akeju, alongside a real estate developer, Alex Ochonogor, before the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square. The trio is facing serious charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery of official documents, and the unlawful demolition of private property.
The defendants were brought before Justice Serifat Sonaike on a five-count charge numbered LD/23611C/2024, filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins. The charges relate to alleged criminal activities which reportedly occurred in 2015, and are said to be in violation of Sections 411, 361(1), and 350 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
According to the prosecution, the defendants conspired to forge key documents, including an affidavit of loss and a demolition notice, which they falsely claimed was issued by the Lagos State Lands Bureau. These forged documents were allegedly used to misrepresent that the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) belonging to one Hamza Al-Mustapha had been lost.
Furthermore, the prosecution alleged that the trio also forged a memorandum of loss and willfully demolished a residential bungalow located at Plot 10, Block 133, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme 1. The said property is claimed to be owned by Dr. Obidigwe Eze, a Nigerian residing abroad.
When the charges were read out, all three defendants pleaded not guilty. In response, the DPP requested that a date be fixed for the commencement of trial.
However, the defence counsel — comprising Dr. Abiodun Layonu (SAN), M.A. Bashua (SAN), and Tony Ejere — urged the court to grant their clients bail on liberal terms. They argued that the accused persons are reputable members of society who are unlikely to evade trial.
After hearing both sides, Justice Sonaike granted bail to Owolabi and Akeju on self-recognisance, with the following conditions: each must deposit a N5 million bail bond within 14 days, submit their Call to Bar certificates to the court registrar, and file an affidavit of compliance within 21 days.
As for Alex Ochonogor, the judge set his bail at N10 million, to be backed by two sureties in like sum. These sureties must provide affidavits of means and present three years’ tax clearance certificates issued by the Lagos State Government.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until October 13 for trial to commence.