I Called Myself To Bar With Forged Degree Certificate – Fake Lawyer Says

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 59-year old man, Dotun Jibowu, has told the Police in Oyo State that he became a lawyer with a forged Obafemi Awolowo University Bachelor of Law Degree Certificate, which was a condition to be called to Bar in Nigeria.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Jibowu, was alleged to have forged one Obafemi Awolowo University Bachelor of Law degree certificate with the name of Adeyemi Oladipupo Jibodu and practiced as a lawyer for several years.

However, the Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan Branch, detected the fraud and handed him over to the Police for prosecution.

The suspect, Jibowu of No. E7/ 692, Agugu Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, is facing a three-count charge bordering on impersonation, forgery and unlawful possession and has been arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan over alleged impersonation as a lawyer.

The NBA, represented by Mr.Olusola Oyewale, reported the matter to the Police.
The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Opeyemi Olagunju, told the Court that the defendant allegedly committed the offense on 9th August, 2021, at about 10am at the Magistrates’ Court, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

“The defendant, with intent to defraud members of the public, alleged to have falsely represented himself to be a Legal Practitioner.”
“He allegedly and unlawfully tendered one Obafemi Awolowo University Bachelor of Law degree certificate with the name of Adeyemi Oladipupo Jibodu.“Jibowu was alleged to have forged one Obafemi Awolowo University Bachelor of Law degree certificate with the name of Adeyemi Oladipupo Jibodu,” Olagunju said.

He said the offences contravened Sections 484, 476 and 486 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II, Law of Oyo State 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr. Yinka Ayoola, asked the Court to grant bail to his client in most liberal terms.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Olaide Hamzat, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Hamzat said one of the sureties must be a landed property owner within the jurisdiction of the Court and adjourned the matter till 25th August 2021, for mention.

If Jibowu is found guilty of the three charges, he is liable to three years imprisonment for impersonation, three years imprisonment for forgery and seven years imprisonment for unlawful possession.