A legal practitioner, Olusegun Agunloye, was arraigned on Thursday before the Chief Magistrate Court in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on charges of forgery and conspiracy. The 49-year-old lawyer is accused of presenting a falsified testamentary instrument, known as the Will of the late Benjamin Ejelonu, at the court’s probate registry.
The police prosecutor, Nelson Akintimehin, alleged that Agunloye, in collaboration with Aminat Bakare, a sister of the deceased who is also facing trial, conspired to forge the Will with the intent to defraud Oluwamodupe Ejelonu. The offence reportedly took place on September 7, 2023, at the probate registry of the High Court in Akure.
According to Akintimehin, the charges brought against Agunloye contravene Sections 516 and 467(2)(f) of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2006.
During the court proceedings, Agunloye pleaded not guilty to the charges. His defense counsel, Kehinde Osadugbe, requested bail for his client on self-recognizance, arguing that the alleged crime occurred in the course of Agunloye performing his legal duties. However, the prosecutor opposed the bail, labeling Agunloye as a flight risk and citing previous instances where the defendant had violated the conditions of administrative bail granted at the police station.
Magistrate Kolawole Aro granted Agunloye bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case to September 2024 for hearing and the consolidation of the charges. Unable to meet the bail conditions, Agunloye was remanded at the police station.
