The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a man, Ugwumba Francis Enyinnaya, for allegedly impersonating a legal practitioner and practising as a barrister and solicitor for more than 11 years.
In a statement the Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi State Command, SP Joshua Ukandu said the arrest followed a discreet investigation by police operatives after the command received a petition alleging obtaining money by false pretence.
According to the petition, Enyinnaya allegedly 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 alleged that the suspect presented himself as an experienced lawyer while offering to facilitate the process.
The police said investigations conducted after his arrest revealed that he had been falsely parading himself as a legal practitioner. During interrogation, the suspect 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.
The exhibits included a Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seal, a portrait of the suspect dressed in barrister’s regalia, 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 wig and robe.
Other items recovered were court judgments allegedly procured by the suspect and various 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.
The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, commended the operatives for their diligence in uncovering the alleged impersonation.
She urged members of the public to verify the credentials of individuals offering legal services and report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
