Zone 11 Police operatives arrest fake lawyer in Ogun

A suspected fake lawyer, Emmanuel Odeh, has been arrested by operatives attached to X-Squad Section, Zone 11 Police headquarters in Osogbo, Osun.

The arrest was made by the squad, led by the Commander, ACP Akinloye Oyegade, last Thursday within court premises in Abeokuta, Ogun, when the suspect was standing as a legal representative of an unsuspecting client.

The Zonal Public Relations Officer, DSP Ade Ogunyemi, who confirmed the arrest in a statement, disclosed that the self-acclaimed lawyer had been investigated for alleged impersonation and fraud.

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Speaking on the arrest at the weekend, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Fred Ekokotu, said that Odeh had been posing as a legitimate attorney for nearly a decade, duping numerous innocent Nigerians of their hard-earned money.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the suspect engaged in legal representation in courts, estate agency, and public consultancy, claiming offices in Lagos and Abuja.

The AIG stated that the arrest was made possible through a discreet investigation by the X-Squad Section, following a petition received from one of the victims who suspected foul play.

He added that investigations further revealed that the suspect operated under the name: ‘A. O. Emmanuel, Legal Practitioner and Public Consultant.’

The AIG thereby called on all Nigerians to verify the authenticity of legal practitioners before engaging their services to avoid improper legal representation, loss of money, case compromise, legal consequences, damage to reputation, and malpractice.

Assuring that the suspect would be arraigned in court for prosecution after the conclusion of the investigation, AIG Ekokotu said that the arrest would serve as a deterrent to individuals who falsely present themselves as lawyers to exploit people’s trust for their selfish financial gain.

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