By George Ozalla
A man identified as U. T. Oghenetejiri has been arrested in Delta State for allegedly impersonating a lawyer and representing unsuspecting clients in court for several months.
Oghenetejiri’s arrest followed a dramatic scene at the Magistrate Court in Orhuwhorun, Udu Local Government Area, where he appeared in a civil case but bolted out of the courtroom after failing to answer a question from the presiding magistrate.
Court staff and lawyers chased him through the Orhuwhorun market before members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Udu Branch’s Anti-Fake Lawyer Committee, led by David Omage and G. Fenfe, eventually caught him.
According to the Chairman of the NBA Udu Branch, Edmund Odohisi, the association had been investigating reports of an impostor appearing in local courts. “We took the matter seriously because the integrity of the legal profession is at stake. When he appeared again at Orhuwhorun Court, our men moved in,” Odohisi said.
Following his arrest, Oghenetejiri was handed over to the police, who discovered that he had been forging legal documents, using fake stamps and seals, and operating an office along Jakpa Road in Effurun. Several forged deeds and legal papers were recovered from his possession.
Police investigations further revealed that the suspect neither attended law school nor was he registered with the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a basic requirement for legal practice in the country.
The incident has stirred concern over the growing menace of fake legal practitioners in the country. The NBA has urged the public to report anyone suspected of impersonating a lawyer, pledging to safeguard the integrity of the profession.
Oghenetejiri remains in police custody at the Ovwian Police Station, awaiting arraignment.
