An Anambra State High Court sitting at Otuocha, Anambra East Local Government on Wednesday, sentenced one Obinna Oraezue to 90 days imprisonment for impersonation.
Justice Okechukwu Onunkwo who presided over the case sentenced Oraezue for impersonating to being a lawyer.
Delivering the judgment, Onunkwo remanded Oraezue at the Onitsha Correctional Centre in Onitsha with hard labour, and for contempt of court.
According to reports, the fake lawyer was arrested at a High Court in Otuocha, a few weeks ago. He was appearing in court as a lawyer when he is not.
In a viral video sighted by ISUIKWUATO VOICE on social media recently, the fake lawyer was shown when he was been interrogated by the judge. He was, however, handed over to security operatives after the interrogation.
Onunkwo while sentencing the fake lawyer, also referred the case of M.T. Olisaeke Law firm that hired the “contemptor” as a “junior lawyer”. The expressed worry that the fake lawyer was hired without proper checks to the Onitsha branch of the Nigeria Bar Association for investigation and disciplinary actions.
The “contemptor” dressed in full regalia of a legal practitioner, had on June 13, 2024, made an appearance in the court for a litigant in a land matter. However, his antics failed him when he could not refer to the basic tenets of the law profession.
His attitude, therefore, raised suspicions among lawyers in the court, including the judge. He was, therefore, interrogated and subsequently arrested.
During his arraignment, the “contemptor” confessed that he studied Political Science at the university and not Law. He, however, stated that he had a passion for legal practice.
Oraezue further added that he had just spent about a month in the law firm that hired him. He maintained that he had never represented anyone in any of the Nigerian courts in the past.
The “contemptor” however, pleaded for forgiveness and leniency of the court. He pointed that it was the economic hardship in the country that pushed him into the act.
Oraezue also revealed that he had worked as a contract employee with the Onitsha South Local Government Area.
He also added that he has five children and an unemployed wife to take care of.
But in his judgement, Justice Onunkwo slammed the “contemptor” with a three-month sentence, with hard labour. The sentence started from June 13, 2024, when he was arrested.
Delivering the judgment, Onunkwo said the sentence was mild because the court considered the “contemptor’s” pleas. He added, however, that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others who may wish to indulge in such ignoble act.
Speaking on the matter after the judgement, a legal practitioner, Uzochukwu Ozumba, said the court was lenient enough because the contemptor had shown remorse. He, therefore, advised others who might wish to toe such a path to run away. He added that the court might not be that lenient in future.
Responding to the development, the Anambra State NBA Chapter Chairman expressed satisfaction over the sentencing. He added that it would serve as a deterrent to others who might have the intention to commit such act.
“It is a good development. The ruling, although a light one, will go a long way to serve as deterrent to others.
“When he was initially discovered in the court to be a fake lawyer, the NBA was notified. And we found out that he was not our member. And thereafter, he was handed over to security operatives.”
source: PUNCH
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