A man who allegedly spent more than eleven years parading himself as a qualified legal practitioner has been arrested by the Ebonyi State Police Command over allegations of impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.
The suspect, identified as Ugwumba Francis Enyinnaya, was arrested following a discreet investigation launched by the police after receiving a petition concerning an alleged ₦650,000 transaction.
According to a press release issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, by the Ebonyi State Police Command, the petitioner, Mr Chukwu David, alleged that he paid the suspect ₦650,000 in March 2026 to facilitate the processing and approval of a street-naming proposal in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect allegedly presented himself as a lawyer with years of professional experience, but investigations following his arrest reportedly uncovered a startling account of alleged legal impersonation.
The police said the suspect admitted during interrogation that he was not a lawyer, raising further questions about how he allegedly maintained the appearance of a legal practitioner for more than a decade.
A search of his apartment reportedly yielded several items, including a Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seal, a portrait showing him dressed in barrister’s regalia, a barrister’s robe and wig, and purported Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) certificates bearing the name of Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Investigators also recovered court judgements allegedly procured by the suspect and various legal documents said to have been prepared by him, including powers of attorney and deeds of conveyance.
