The Ebonyi State Police Command arrested Ugwumba Enyinnaya in Abakaliki on Tuesday after a covert investigation revealed he had been pretending to be a qualified lawyer for over ten years, allegedly defrauding a client of N650,000 and possessing counterfeit legal credentials.
What triggered the investigation?
The probe began when Mr David Chukwu filed a petition alleging that Enyinnaya collected N650,000 in March 2026, promising to secure approval for a street‑naming request in Ohaozara Local Government Area. The petitioner claimed the suspect presented himself as an experienced attorney while receiving the payment.
Key facts uncovered:
- The suspect admitted during police questioning that he was not a lawyer.
- A search of his residence yielded a fake Nigerian Bar Association seal, a portrait of him in barrister’s robes, and forged LL.B. and LL.M. certificates allegedly issued by Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
- Additional items included a barrister’s wig, a robe, court judgments purportedly obtained from a court, and several legal documents such as powers of attorney and deeds of conveyance.
- The police spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu of the Ebonyi State Police Command, confirmed that Enyinnaya has been formally charged and will face trial.
How did authorities respond?
Commissioner of Police Hope Okafor praised the operatives for their diligence in exposing the fraud, emphasizing the importance of vigilance when the public engages individuals claiming legal expertise. The police urged citizens to verify the credentials of anyone offering legal services.
Background on legal impersonation in Nigeria:
Impersonating a legal practitioner is a criminal offence under the Legal Practitioners Act, which mandates that only individuals admitted to the Nigerian Bar Association may practice law. Cases of fake lawyers have periodically surfaced, often involving the use of forged certificates and bar seals to deceive clients.
What should the public do?
Members of the public are advised to request verification of a lawyer’s registration number with the Nigerian Bar Association and to be cautious of unsolicited legal advice, especially when large sums of money are involved.
The suspect remains in police custody pending further court proceedings, and the recovered items have been submitted as evidence to support the prosecution’s case.