Lawyer Taiwo found guilty and given a two-year prison sentence over N4 million fraud

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

A lawyer named Taiwo Oreagba was found guilty and given a two-year prison sentence by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offenses Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, for obtaining N4,000,000 from a client in order to secure the release of a suspect from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s custody (EFCC).

On August 25, 2022, she was sentenced to prison after being found guilty on two counts related to corrupt demand and receiving money under false pretenses.

The charge reads: “That you, Taiwo Oreagba, on or about March 2, 2020, in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while acting as counsel to one Kelechi Uka, requested and received the sum of N4,000,000.00 through your business name account known as Bobcom Enterprises from one Henry George Umoh on the understanding that the money was intended to influence the officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in order to secure the release

She entered a “not guilty” plea to the accusations, which resulted in a full trial.

Five witnesses were called by the prosecution’s attorney, G.C. Akaogu, during the trial, including Henry Umoh, Uka’s uncle.

Umoh described to the court how the criminal persuaded him to part with the specified amount of money without giving him a receipt during his testimony, which was led in by the prosecution attorney.

Umoh informed the court in his subsequent testimony that the defendant claimed the money was not intended for her. Additionally, he informed the court that the prisoner had promised to send him a summary of the inquiry that cleared Uka.

In order to support his case against the defendant, the prosecution attorney also submitted an audio tape as evidence. Oreagba was heard on the audio advising her client that by paying the EFCC officials N4 million, she could ensure his “smooth landing.”

Oreagba was found guilty of the offense, and Justice Taiwo sentenced her to two years in prison with the possibility of a fine of N500,000.00.

However, Oreagba was exonerated on count two of collecting money under false pretense.

Justice Taiwo further criticized the convict’s behavior for boasting about her ability to influence EFCC employees and the distribution of cases to judges in the Lagos State Judiciary.

According to an EFCC statement, Oreagba’s voyage to the correctional facility started when she was detained by agents of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Command and charged with two counts including corrupt demand and receiving by false pretense of N4 million in November 2020.

She obtained the money fraudulently by representing that she would use it to have her client released from the EFCC’s custody.