Police Nab Man Accused of Posing as Lawyer for Over a Decade, Recover Fake Certificates
The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested Ugwumba Francis Enyinnaya for allegedly posing as a barrister and solicitor for more than a decade despite not being a qualified legal practitioner.
The arrest followed a discreet investigation by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force after the command received a petition alleging that the suspect obtained money under false pretences.
The petitioner, identified as Mr 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 reportedly presented himself as a lawyer with considerable professional experience before allegedly collecting the money.
Police investigations subsequently uncovered evidence suggesting that Enyinnaya had been impersonating a legal practitioner. During questioning, he reportedly admitted that he was not a lawyer.
A search conducted at his apartment led to the recovery of several items believed to have been used in portraying him as a legal practitioner.
Among the items recovered were a Nigerian Bar Association seal, a portrait showing the suspect in barrister’s attire, and purported LL.B. and LL.M. certificates bearing the name of Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
The police also recovered a barrister’s wig and robe, court judgments allegedly procured by the suspect, and legal documents purportedly prepared by him, including powers of attorney and deeds of conveyance.
The command confirmed that the suspect had been charged to court.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, psc, mnips, praised the officers involved in the investigation for their professionalism and diligence.
Okafor urged members of the public to exercise caution when seeking legal services by verifying the qualifications and credentials of individuals claiming to be lawyers.
He also encouraged residents to report suspicious activities to the police to help prevent fraud and other related offences.
