Impersonation And Fraud: Ibadan Lawyer’s Son Sentenced To Six Years Imprisonment

Abdulgafar Ayanrinde, a young man who claimed to have dropped out of the University of Ibadan where he studied Law, has been convicted and sentenced to six years in prison for impersonating a legal practitioner and committing fraud.

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osun State brought Ayanrinde before a Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo, where he faced two charges related to impersonation and fraud.

Ayanrinde, aged 25, was accused of impersonating a lawyer and defrauding a Point of Sales operator.

During his arrest and subsequent parade by the NSCDC in Osogbo, Ayanrinde admitted that he engaged in criminal activities to spite his father, who he claimed was a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria in Ibadan, Oyo State. He revealed that financial constraints led him to drop out of the university at the 200-level.

Ayanrinde confessed to posing as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and deceiving unsuspecting litigants into hiring him. He also admitted to defrauding five individuals of their hard-earned money and stealing an iPhone worth N450,000.

The prosecuting counsel from NSCDC informed the court that Ayanrinde falsely represented himself as a legal practitioner at the Osun State High Court on May 22, 2023, and fraudulently obtained N150,000 from a Point of Sales agent on May 18, 2023.

Ayanrinde pleaded guilty to the charges and was unrepresented by legal counsel in court. The prosecutor requested an adjournment to prepare the presentation of facts in light of the defendant’s guilty plea.

After the adjournment, the corps prosecutor demonstrated to the court that Ayanrinde was involved in fraud, impersonation, stealing, and obtaining money under false pretenses.

Magistrate M. A. Olatunji found Ayanrinde guilty on both counts and subsequently sentenced him to three years imprisonment for each charge. The court also ordered the transfer of N150,000 from the convict’s bank account to one of the victims, while the Nigeria Correctional Service was tasked with providing educational opportunities for the convict while in custody.

In response to the judgment, the state NSCDC Commandant, Agboola Sunday, emphasized the importance of parents and guardians adequately caring for their children and wards. He called on youths to engage in productive ventures that contribute positively to their lives instead of resorting to criminal activities.