December 1, 2023
A courtroom incident was witnessed on 1st December 2023 at the Surulere Magistrate Court as one Chioma Uche was arraigned on the charge of impersonating a lawyer. The allegation date back to an incident on November 30, 2023, at Itire Police Station, where Uche purportedly misrepresented herself, engaging in activities associated with obtaining money under false pretenses.
The Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, stands as the prominent complainant in this legal saga. Olatunji Akinola, a senior member of NBA Ikeja, observed proceedings as A.M Lawal, SEYI Olawumi (Chairman, NBA Ikeja), and Issa Adedokun (Secretary, NBA Ikeja) played instrumental roles in bringing the alleged impostor to court.
Facing the impending legal repercussions, Uche now grapples with the intricacies of the charges outlined in the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015. Pleading “not guilty,” she sought bail, which was granted at the sum of N500,000 with additional bail conditions. She was remanded in Kirikiri correctional Centre pending when she perfects her bail The court adjourned the case to 16th January, 2023.
This incident has exposed the urgent need for thorough credential verification within the legal system, underscoring the call for maintaining the interest and virtue of legal professionalism. As the courtroom episode unfolds, Legal Nigeria remains at the forefront, providing updates on this appalling legal saga.
