Lagos Arraigns Two Lawyers, Developer over Forgery,  Property Destruction

Wale Igbintade

Two legal practitioners, Ademola Owolabi and Adebayo Akeju, were yesterday arraigned before the Lagos State High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square over allegations of forgery and willful destruction of property.

They were charged alongside a real estate developer, Alex Ochonogor, before Justice Serifat Sonaike. The three defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit forgery, forgery, and willful destruction of property.

The charges were filed by the Lagos State Government under suit number LD/23611C/2024.

According to the prosecution, the case involves the alleged forgery of land documents and the demolition of a property located in the Lekki area of Lagos. When the matter was called, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, announced his appearance for the state.

Dr. Abiodun Layonu (SAN) represented the first defendant, Owolabi; M.A. Bashua (SAN), represented the second defendant, Akeju; while Tony Ejere appeared for the third defendant, Ochonogor.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired in 2015 to forge an affidavit of loss and a demolition notice, purportedly issued by the Lagos State Lands Bureau, in order to falsely claim that a Certificate of Occupancy originally issued to one Hamza Al-Mustapha had been lost.

They also allegedly forged a memorandum of loss for the same document and willfully demolished a bungalow located at Plot 10, Block 133, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme 1.

The property reportedly belongs to Dr. Obidigwe Eze, a Nigerian living abroad.

The offences are said to contravene Sections 411, 361(1), and 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. all three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea, Dr. Martins requested a trial date for commencement of trial.

 In response, the defence teams moved their bail applications.

Dr. Layonu, appearing for Owolabi, urged the court to grant bail on self-recognizance, noting that his client had no prior criminal record and was not a flight risk.

He added: “The first defendant is a legal practitioner and I am willing to stand surety for him.”

Bashua (SAN), representing Akeju, said the second defendant is also a legal practitioner with over 34 years at the bar and has developed serious health issues since the matter began.

He also prayed the court to grant bail on self-recognizance.

Counsel to the third defendant, Ejere, noted that although his client is not a lawyer, he is a respectable Nigerian and urged the court to allow him to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the police.

He also prayed that the defendant be released to him pending the perfection of his bail.

In her ruling, Justice Sonaike granted Owolabi and Akeju bail on self-recognizance.

She ordered each of them to deposit their Call to Bar certificates with the court registrar and post a bail bond of N5 million within 14 days.

They are also to file an affidavit showing compliance within 21 days.

The judge granted Ochonogor bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties must present affidavits of means and evidence of payment of personal income tax for the three years preceding 2024.

The court registrar is to verify the addresses of both the defendant and the sureties.

Justice Sonaike gave the third defendant seven days to meet the bail conditions, warning that failure by any of the three defendants to comply with the bail terms within the specified period would result in revocation and remand in custody.

The matter has been adjourned to October 13, 2025, for trial.