A individual purporting to be a solicitor was taken into custody on Thursday at the Orhuwhorun Magistrates’ Court in the Udu Local Government Area of Delta State. The suspect, identified as U.T. Oghenetejiri, was representing a client in a criminal case when his inability to address a query from the magistrate aroused suspicion among practising lawyers present in the courtroom.
Following the confrontation, the man reportedly bolted from the room, prompting court staff and lawyers to give chase into the nearby Orhuwhorun market, where he was subsequently detained. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Udu Branch, which had been conducting a quiet investigation into the suspect for months, led the operation to apprehend him.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused had been preparing legal documents, forging official stamps and seals, and even maintained an office on Jakpa Road in Effurun. Subsequent verification confirmed that Oghenetejiri never attended Law School and his name is absent from the official roll of legal practitioners at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a mandatory requirement for practising law in the country.
The suspect has been transferred to the Ovwian Police Station for further investigation and potential arraignment. The NBA has commended the swift action and reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of the legal profession.
