Kehinde Fajobi
A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State has ordered the remand of four commercial computer centre operators for conspiracy, impersonation, and forgery of legal documents, including Powers of Attorney.
The defendants, Onuoha Ikechukwu (40), Daniel Lawrence (27), Odinaka Onyeforo (37), and Ndukwe Chukwu (50), were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Erinma Maduagwu on a three-count charge of impersonating legal practitioners and forging documents.
The alleged offences were committed at Nos. 2F and 2J Pound Road Extension, Aba, where the defendants operated for years.
Prosecutor Uzoamaka Emmanuel revealed that the first defendant, Onuoha Ikechukwu, was found with over 70 forged Powers of Attorney bearing the names of both living and deceased lawyers. These documents were allegedly used in legal transactions, deceiving unsuspecting clients by using stolen letterheads, stamps, and seals of legitimate lawyers.
Their actions violated sections 516A(a), 484, and 465, punishable under section 467(1)(b) of the Criminal Code of Abia State, 2005.
Counts two and three further charged the defendants with falsely presenting themselves as licensed surveyors and legal practitioners, preparing fraudulent legal documents under the names of lawyers, including Van Abakwuo and Izuchukwu Onyeoma.
The charge sheet detailed instances of forged Powers of Attorney involving numerous individuals, including one between Mr. Awa Agwu, Robert Nworo, and Onyegu Ifeanyi, among others.
The defendants, represented by their lawyers, pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial was adjourned to October 25 for the consideration of their bail applications. The accused were remanded in the Nigeria Correctional Service facility in Aba.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Aba branch, Barr. Charles Oluchukwu, who was present in court, stated, “These perpetrators have truly dealt with us (lawyers). The Bar passed a resolution that such individuals caught should be prosecuted, and some of our colleagues who are aiding them in signing those documents should be reported to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee in Abuja.”
Oluchukwu further explained that the NBA had formed a 5-man Anti-Fake Lawyers and Car Stickers Committee, led by Uchenna Ejiogu, to clamp down on such activities. He warned the public to avoid patronising quacks, as many forged documents are legally defective.
“We will not spare anyone involved,” he said, adding that the Bar will also begin prosecuting those who patronise these forgers.