Police in Ebonyi State arrested Ugwumba Enyinnaya following a complaint that he allegedly collected ₦650,000 from Chukwu David in March 2026 to facilitate the processing and approval of a street-naming request. Enyinnaya presented himself as a lawyer with years of experience. Investigations revealed that he had been parading himself as a legal practitioner despite not being qualified.
Items recovered from Enyinnaya's apartment included a Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seal, a wig and robe, purported law degrees, and legal documents. A search of his apartment uncovered a portrait of him dressed in barrister’s regalia 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.
According to the police, Enyinnaya admitted during interrogation that he was not a lawyer. He had been charged to court. The case highlights the importance of verifying a lawyer's credentials in Nigeria. A person must be called to the Bar and enrolled as a legal practitioner to practise law.
In Nigeria, appearances are not enough when choosing someone to handle legal matters. A wig, robe, framed certificate, or professional-looking office does not establish that someone is qualified. Nigerians can check a lawyer's enrolment details through the NBA's official website and seek further confirmation through relevant professional channels.
To identify and verify a lawyer in Nigeria, one should ask for the person's full name and Supreme Court enrolment number (SCN). Then, use the Nigerian Bar Association's official website and its Find a Lawyer service to look for the practitioner's details. Compare the details found with the person's identity and ask questions if the information does not match.
For an additional check, the Supreme Court of Nigeria's Enrolment and Credence page guides confirming a legal practitioner's status. The court directs enquiries about status confirmation to Credence. One can also contact the lawyer's stated local NBA branch to ask about their professional standing and current practising status.
Legal practitioners handle matters involving property, money, businesses, and personal rights. Entrusting such work to someone falsely claiming to be a lawyer can expose clients to financial losses, missed deadlines, and disputes over documents or legal representation. Enyinnaya allegedly posed as a lawyer for 11 years, highlighting the need for vigilance when selecting a lawyer.
Key points
- The suspect, Ugwumba Enyinnaya, was found with an NBA seal, wigs, and purported law degrees.
- The police investigation revealed that Enyinnaya had not been qualified as a lawyer.
- Nigerians can verify a lawyer's credentials through the NBA's official website and relevant professional channels.
