From Enyinna Omoke, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested Ugwumba Francis Enyinnaya for allegedly impersonating a legal practitioner and practising law for more than 11 years without being a qualified lawyer.
The suspect’s arrest followed a discreet investigation by police operatives after the command received a petition bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, according to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, on Tuesday.
The petition alleged that Enyinnaya collected ₦650,000 from one Chukwu David in March 2026 to facilitate the processing and approval of a street name in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The petitioner reportedly said the suspect presented himself as a lawyer with years of legal experience before collecting the money.
Police investigations following his arrest allegedly revealed that the suspect had been parading himself as a legal practitioner despite not being qualified to practise law. During interrogation, he reportedly admitted that he was not a lawyer.
A search of his apartment led to the recovery of several items suspected to have been used in the alleged impersonation. They included a Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seal, a portrait of the suspect dressed in barrister’s regalia, and purported Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree certificates bearing his name and that of Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Other items recovered included a barrister’s robe and wig, court judgments allegedly procured by the suspect, and various legal documents purportedly prepared by him, including powers of attorney and deeds of conveyance.
The police said the suspect had been charged to court.
