Chief Magistrate Musa Al-Yunus has nabbed a pastor identified as Temidayo Olajimi, who pretended to be a lawyer for the purpose of standing as a surety to bail a defendant.
Al-Yunus apprehended Olajimi while questioning him in his office after the defendant, Vincent Oriade, jumped bail.
Olajimi had on May 8, 2023, approached the court to secure the bail of Oriade, who was arraigned for fraud.
The Magistrate released Oriade after Olajimi wrote a letter of request to stand as a surety for the defendant, who he claimed to be his brother and also a church member.
It was gathered that Oriade jumped bail, and a bench warrant of arrest was issued against him and his surety, who also refused to appear in court.
The police later arrested Olajimi in Ondo town and when questioned by the Magistrate, his lack of knowledge of the law and exhibition of ignorance of legal terminologies gave him away.
A source said the Magistrate probed his educational background and Olajimi could not mention the name of one of his mates or the date he was called to the bar.
He told the Magistrate he was called to the bar in 2007, the same year he concluded his first degree and master’s degree.
During questioning, he said: “I am not saying I’m a lawyer, but I can tell you I’m a graduate with two degrees. I don’t know the number of years I have spent in the bar. I was called to the bar in 2007 and I had my master’s degree in the year.”
He was handed over to the police for further investigations.
