The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a man, Ugwumba Enyinnaya, for impersonating a lawyer and practising unlawfully for more than 11 years.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, saying the arrest followed an investigation into a petition bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.
According to the police, Enyinnaya collected ₦650,000 from one Chukwu David in March 2026 to facilitate the processing and approval of a street naming exercise in Ohaozara Local Government Area.
The petitioner told the police that Enyinnaya presented himself as an experienced legal practitioner before collecting the money.
The command said investigations following his arrest revealed that he had been parading himself as a lawyer despite not being qualified to practise law. During interrogation, the suspect admitted that he was not a legal practitioner.
A search of his apartment led to the recovery of several items, including a Nigerian Bar Association seal, a portrait showing him dressed in barrister’s regalia, and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) certificates bearing the name of Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Other items recovered included a barrister’s wig and robe, court judgments, powers of attorney, deeds of conveyance and other legal documents prepared by the suspect.
The police confirmed that Enyinnaya had been charged to court.
The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, CP Hope Okafor, commended the officers involved in the investigation for uncovering the impersonation.
She urged members of the public to verify the professional credentials of individuals offering legal services and report suspicious activities to the police.
