“The Law! Na that my uncle when I tell you say I wan go call come be this. Na me and am go stand surety be this. Na gorvament worker, and I don pass level 15, na big oga oooo! Very very soon, e go pension and begin chop beta govamenti moni”

So said Alhaji Adebayo smiling broadly from side to side. Well! My ultimate task was to ensure my client went home, and I didn’t care much about the surety as long as the suspected fraudster’s family member brought it.

I knew both sureties were professional sureties, who were in the business of standing suretyship for accused or suspected persons under custody to enable them to secure their bail while making money from the trade at the same time.

Before the family went on a voyage of seeking a qualified family member or acquaintance that could take their son on bail, I had taken time to school them on the need to avoid professional sureties and the danger it could occasion them and the sureties.

There is, most professional sureties know very little about the suspect in custody, and are unable to explain in details their relationship with the suspect they seek to be released to them on bail.

Once you are unable to verify your relationship with the suspect or end up presenting cloned or fake documents to those stern-looking E.F.C.C officers at Ribadu, Ikoyi, Lagos, you are in a big soup. A boiling smelling soup!

I even went to the extent of educating them that they and the child could remain in custody if it were discovered they were involved in professional surety racketeering. I gave instances of lawyers who were present in E.F.C.C custody for soiling their names and with the criminal allegation of perversion of justice and criminal conspiracy to pervert justice hanging on their nacks.

Some persons do get away with it no doubt, but that does not make it right.

I stayed back watching T.V in a friend’s office while the duo went into Oga’s office for an interview.

I became worried when they were taking too long and sort permission to find out what was happening. Alas, the sureties were both in handcuffs. They have been caught for acting as professional surety. The C of O the suspect’s alleged uncle brought was a cloned copy, a fake!

The government worker could not explain his relationship with the suspect. They will be detained and possibly charged to court for prevention of justice and criminal conspiracy to commit same.

What ought to end in a single day, took an extra tiring week, despite all pleas, power games and connection pulling, including sending officers to plead with the Oga the gave the detention order before the trio regained their freedom.

I chop triple money sha. So it was a good deal for me at the end of the day.

But what is the position of the law? How dangerous is this path? Can one land in jail for being a professional surety?

Ask me questions on the topic of standing as guarantors or surety for persons. A lot of people have gotten into trouble because of this. I don't want you to fall victim.

Often you get to hear this question from friends and relatives:
Can you stand in as my guarantor?

Let's discuss this question and your experience as a surety or guarantor.

Thank you for this enlightenment. Sir, if I stand as a guarantor for someone who I knew to be of good behaviour but later turned otherwise how can I cease to be his guarantor?

Hopez456:
Thank you for this enlightenment. Sir, if I stand as a guarantor for someone who I knew to be of good behaviour but later turned otherwise how can I cease to be his guarantor?

Yes you can. But it depends on the nature of guarantorship and transaction.

litigator:


Yes you can. But it depends on the nature of guarantorship and transaction.

Alright. Thank you sir.

litigator:
Ask me questions on the topic of standing as guarantors or surety for persons. A lot of people have gotten into trouble because of this. I don't want you to fall victim.

Often you get to hear this question from friends and relatives:
Can you stand in as my guarantor?

Let's discuss this question and your experience as a surety or guarantor.

Hey man

A family member wants me to be his gurantor for this ongoing nisral loan scheme. I am sketlptical about the whole issue and would love to know the risks involved.

Thanks

Fuhrerfran6:


Hey man

A family member wants me to be his gurantor for this ongoing nisral loan scheme. I am sketlptical about the whole issue and would love to know the risks involved.

Thanks

If you're convinced that the person's integrity is in doubt then don't stand as guarantor for him!

Fuhrerfran6:


Hey man

A family member wants me to be his gurantor for this ongoing nisral loan scheme. I am sketlptical about the whole issue and would love to know the risks involved.

Thanks

Same risk as that of the borrower. If he is unable to or refuses to pay, you will be liable to pay the outstanding balance plus accrued interest. My honest position is don't do it if you have doubts.

There is a case I did in 2018, a junior staff stood as guarantor for his boss. The boss relocated abroad and the employee had to pay back the loan reluctantly and guess what?

The loan was about half of his annual salary.

This should guide you.

Shalom.