By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Nigeria Police in Ebonyi State has arrested one Ugwumba Francis Enyinnaya for allegedly impersonating a legal practitioner and solicitor for over 10 years.

ln a statement on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Joshua Ukandu, said the arrest followed a discreet investigation after the command received a petition alleging obtaining money by false pretence.

According to the petition, the suspect allegedly collected ₦650,000 from one Mr Chukwu David in March 2026 to facilitate the processing and approval of a street-naming request in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

SP Ukandu said the petitioner alleged that the suspect presented himself as a lawyer with years of legal experience.

He added that investigations following the suspect’s arrest revealed that he had allegedly been parading himself as a legal practitioner despite not being qualified to practise law.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted that he was not a lawyer.

A search of his apartment led to the recovery of several exhibits, including a Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seal and a portrait of the suspect dressed in barrister’s regalia.

Other items recovered included purported Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree certificates bearing the suspect’s name and purportedly issued by Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

The police also recovered 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.

He added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, commended operatives of the command for their diligence in uncovering the alleged impersonation.

The commissioner also urged members of the public to verify the credentials of individuals offering legal services and report any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.