Emmanuel Thomas l Tuesday, September 25, 2018
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – The Nigeria Police(NP) has arrested a Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Edward Oseghale for procuring false judgement in a matter involving a tenant and a landlord. He was alleged to have used judgement obtained in another matter from a different court with the same number but different year for the eviction of a tenant in Lagos.
Addressing journalists in Lagos, Chief Registrar of the Lagos State Judiciary, Mrs. Taiwo Olatokun said Edward Oseghale was arrested in the court premises after making appearance in another matter. She said the lawyer has been handed over to the Nigeria Police for investigation and prosecution.
She said the lawyer was arrested at in from the court of Magistrate T. Abayomi of Court 4, Surulere. Olatokun said issue of forgery has been a source of headace to the Lagos judiciary, adding that the ministry has been inaundated with inquiries from embassies and foreign missions abroad seeking verification for judgment procured by lawyers, some in issues relating to divorce and that the Chief of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke is determined to prosecute this matter as use it as a deterrent to others.
“It has become a big problem for us. We are taking steps but we decided that as long as we can get hold of the people doing it , the law takes it course hence the CJ is interested in prosecution of this lawyer as a deterrent for those using fake documents. We have told the Chief Security Officer that this matter must be be prosecuted, we have foworded documents to the police”, she said.
She said all the staff of the judiciary are ready to give evidence, adding “for us it is a serious and a very painful development, she wants us to prosecute and see to the end of this case”, she said
She noted that lawyer in question could have gotten away with it if the counsel had failed to come to court. “It is a landlord and tennat matter, only god knows how many tennants would have been evicted illegally”, she said.
