In a decisive move against quackery in the legal profession, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has intensified its crackdown on fake lawyers, leading to the arrest of two suspects in Delta State.
Vanguard Newspaper, via its official X handle, reported that members of the NBA Warri, Effurun, and Udu branches apprehended a man identified as Tega Ikupa at the premises of Magistrate Court 1, Effurun, on Monday. Ikupa was caught red-handed preparing a Deed of Conveyance using the official seal of a Sapele-based lawyer, Israel Onoge Esq., without authorization.
Upon further interrogation, Ikupa admitted to obtaining the fraudulent documents from his sister-in-law, who was also immediately taken into custody. The suspects were swiftly handed over to the Ebrumede Police Station, where they are currently being detained for further investigation.
A team of vigilant legal practitioners, including D.O. Omage, Lawrence Ayewa of Udu Branch, O.J. Oghenejakpor Jnr, D.J. Ikpesu of Effurun Branch, A.P. Eferurhobo, and J.E. Irogbo of Warri Branch, played a crucial role in exposing the fraudulent act. Upon discovering the forged seal with a Supreme Court number, they promptly contacted Onoge Esq., who categorically denied authorizing the use of his seal.
The case took a new twist when the female suspect confessed that a surveyor in Adeje Community, Okpe, had prepared the fraudulent Deeds for her after collecting N80,000. Acting on this lead, CSP Iwok Ndifereke, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ebrumede, ordered the immediate arrest of the said surveyor as investigations deepened.
This latest crackdown comes on the heels of a similar operation in which two fake lawyers were apprehended at Ovwian, Udu Local Government Area, underscoring the NBA’s unwavering commitment to purging the profession of impostors.
The NBA has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on fraudulent practices within the legal system, vowing to continue its clampdown on quack lawyers who tarnish the profession’s integrity.
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