Police arrest alleged fake lawyer after 10 years of impersonation

The Police Command in Ebonyi State has arrested a man, Ugwumba Enyinnaya, for allegedly impersonating and practising as a lawyer for more than 10 years.

Joshua Ukandu, the police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, disclosed this in a press statement issued in Abakaliki on Tuesday.

Mr Ukandu, a police superintendent, said the arrest followed a discreet investigation by operatives after receiving a petition alleging the suspect obtained money by false pretence.

According to him, the petitioner, David Chukwu, alleged that the suspect collected ₦650,000 from him in March 2026 to facilitate the processing and approval of a street-naming request in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

He said the suspect allegedly presented himself as a lawyer with years of legal experience while collecting the money.

Mr Ukandu said preliminary investigations following the arrest revealed that the suspect had allegedly been parading himself as a legal practitioner despite lacking the requisite professional qualifications.

He added that the suspect admitted during interrogation that he was not a lawyer.

The police spokesperson said a search of the suspect’s apartment led to the recovery of several exhibits, including a Nigerian Bar Association seal and a portrait of the suspect dressed in barrister’s regalia.

Other items recovered, according to him, included purported Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degree certificates bearing the name of Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

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The police also recovered a barrister’s robe and wig, court judgements allegedly procured from the court, and various legal documents purportedly prepared by the suspect.

Mr Ukandu listed some of the documents as powers of attorney and deeds of conveyance.

He said the suspect had been charged to court.

According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, Hope Okafor, commended the operatives for their diligence in uncovering the alleged impersonation.

The police reiterated the need for the public to exercise caution when engaging individuals who claim to be lawyers.