Man Allegedly Poses as Lawyer for 11 Years, Arrested in Ebonyi

The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a man, Ugwumba Enyinnaya, for allegedly impersonating a lawyer and practising illegally for more than 11 years.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, explaining that the arrest followed an investigation into a petition alleging obtaining money by false pretence.

According to the police, the suspect allegedly collected ₦650,000 from one Chukwu David in March 2026 to facilitate the processing and approval of a street naming in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

The petitioner reportedly alleged that Enyinnaya presented himself as a lawyer with several years of legal experience.

The police said preliminary investigations following his arrest revealed that the suspect had allegedly been posing as a legal practitioner despite not being qualified as one.

During interrogation, Enyinnaya reportedly admitted that he was not a lawyer, according to the police statement.

A search of his apartment allegedly led to the recovery of several items believed to be connected to the case. They included a Nigerian Bar Association seal, a portrait of the suspect dressed in barrister’s regalia, and purported Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws certificates bearing the name of Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

Other items reportedly recovered were a barrister’s robe and wig, court judgments allegedly procured by the suspect, and various legal documents, including powers of attorney and deeds of conveyance.

The police said the suspect had been charged to court, although details of the charge and the court handling the case were not provided in the statement.

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

She also urged members of the public to verify the credentials of individuals offering legal services and report suspicious activities to the police.