A Chief Magistrates’ Court 1 in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State has remanded four commercial computer center operators in a Nigeria Correctional Service facility. The accused, Onuoha Ikechukwu (40), Daniel Lawrence (27), Odinaka Onyeforo (37), and Ndukwe Chukwu (50), faced three charges: conspiracy, impersonation, and forgery of a Power of Attorney—an act restricted to qualified legal practitioners.
According to the charge sheet, the suspects operated at Nos. 2F and 2J Pound Road Extension in Aba and have been engaged in illicit activities for years. The first defendant, Onuoha Ikechukwu, was found in possession of over 70 forged Powers of Attorney, bearing the names of both living and deceased lawyers.
The suspects allegedly catered to lawyers for legal document preparation, stealing letterheads and collaborating with other syndicates now at large to produce illegal documents for unsuspecting clients, using stamps and seals from deceased lawyers.
Prosecutor Uzoamaka Emmanuel stated that their actions violated sections 516A(a), 484, and 465 of the Criminal Code, punishable under section 467(1)(b) of the Criminal Code Cap 80 Vol. III Laws of Abia State of Nigeria 2005.
Counts two and three accused the defendants of falsely presenting themselves as licensed surveyors and legal practitioners by preparing Deeds of Power of Attorney using stolen letterheads and names of lawyers, including Van Abakwuo and Izuchukwu Onyeoma.
The charge sheet indicated that the suspects forged numerous Power of Attorney documents with fraudulent details. “You executed other Deeds of Power of Attorney for yet-to-be-identified persons, as listed on the face of said Deeds. Many cover pages of Power of Attorney signed by Joshua Onyekachi Emele ESQ lack names of any Donor and Donee,” the document stated.
The defendants, represented by their lawyers, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial magistrate adjourned the matter to Friday, October 25, for consideration of their bail application and ordered their remand in the Aba Nigeria Correctional Service facility.
Meanwhile, Barr. Charles Oluchukwu, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Aba, commented on the case, saying, “These perpetrators have truly dealt with us. The Bar passed a resolution to prosecute such individuals, and any colleagues aiding them in signing these documents should be reported to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee in Abuja for prosecution.”
Oluchukwu announced the formation of a five-member committee, called the Anti-Fake Lawyers and Car Stickers Committee, to clamp down on these activities, led by Uchenna Ejiogu. He urged the public to avoid patronizing these quacks, warning that many Powers of Attorney they prepare are defective.
The NBA plans to start prosecuting those who engage these fraudulent operators. Oluchukwu added, “We will not spare anyone involved. Measures are in place to monitor illegal activities by touts in the legal sector.”
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