BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a 45-year-old man, Solomon Nwafor, for allegedly impersonating a lawyer.
Nwafor was nabbed after parading himself as a practising lawyer for about 20 months with intent to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The suspect was docked before an Abakaliki Magistrate’s Court over the offence.
According to the police prosecutor, Chinagorom Ezeh, the defendant committed the offence between January 2022 and August 23, 2023.
He said the accused person, arraigned before Chief Magistrate Lynda Ogodo, falsely represented himself as a practising lawyer in Abakaliki with intent to defraud unsuspecting persons and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Volume 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.
The one count-charge read, “That you Solomon Nwafor, between January 2022 and 23rd August 2023, at Abakaliki magisterial district, did with intent to defraud unsuspecting persons, falsely represented yourself to be a practising lawyer in Abakaliki and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Volume 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Applying for his bail, the defence counsel, C. A. Amiara, noted that the offence was bailable and that the defendant, who is a former Chairman of a Local Government Area in the state, would be available to attend his trial.
The prosecutor did not oppose the bail application.
A lawyer, E. N. Nwambam, held brief for the Nigerian Bar Association, Ebonyi State, during the arraignment.
Ruling on the bail application, Chief Magistrate Ogodo granted Nwafor bail on self recognition.
The matter was adjourned till October 30 for hearing.
