Police Arrest Fake Lawyer After 11 Years of Impersonation in Ebonyi

The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a man, Ugwumba Enyinnaya, for allegedly posing as a legal practitioner for more than 11 years and collecting money under false pretences.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, explaining that the arrest followed an investigation into a petition alleging fraud.

According to the police, the petitioner, identified as Chukwu David, alleged that Enyinnaya 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 Ebonyi State.

The suspect allegedly presented himself as an experienced lawyer while receiving the money.

Ukandu said preliminary investigations revealed that Enyinnaya had allegedly been presenting himself as a legal practitioner despite lacking the necessary professional qualifications. During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted that he was not a lawyer.

A search of the suspect’s apartment led to the recovery of several items, including a Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seal and a framed portrait of him dressed in barrister’s regalia.

Other items recovered included purported Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) certificates bearing the name of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, as well as a barrister’s robe and wig.

The police also recovered court judgments allegedly obtained from the courts and legal documents purportedly prepared by the suspect, including powers of attorney and deeds of conveyance.

The command said the suspect had been charged to court, although further details of the charges were not provided in the statement.

The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, CP Hope Okafor, commended the operatives involved in uncovering the alleged impersonation.

She urged members of the public to verify the professional credentials of individuals offering legal services and report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.

The police reiterated the importance of confirming the qualifications and professional status of legal practitioners to protect the public from fraud and unauthorised legal services.