BY RITA NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
The Ebonyi State Police Command has arraigned a 33-year-old man, Ugwumba Enyinnaya, before an Abakaliki Magistrate Court over alleged impersonation, forgery, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.
Enyinnaya, who is facing a four-count charge, pleaded not guilty to the allegations bordering on conspiracy, impersonation, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence.
The Principal State Counsel in the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Lilian Anya, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offences between March and October 2026 in Ohaozara Local Government Area and other parts of the Abakaliki Magisterial District.
Anya alleged that Enyinnaya conspired with other persons still at large to commit the offences, adding that the alleged acts contravened Section 516A(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Volume One, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant allegedly impersonated a legal practitioner by appearing in a lawyer’s wig, gown and bib despite not being qualified to practise law. She said the alleged impersonation was punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Volume One, Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009.
The prosecutor further alleged that the defendant forged Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree certificates, a Nigerian Bar Association seal and court documents, which the police claimed were fake.
Anya also told the court that the defendant allegedly obtained ₦650,000 from one David Onu under the pretence of registering a street name and constructing a road leading to his compound. She said the alleged act constituted obtaining money by false pretence, an offence punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Volume One, Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009.
Defence counsel, Mr Sunday Eleke, applied for bail, arguing that the defendant was entitled to bail and assuring the court that he would not jump bail. Eleke also stressed that his client remained innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
In his ruling on the proceedings, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Hosea Akata, observed that bail was not an absolute constitutional right. He subsequently adjourned the matter until November 5, 2026, for ruling on the bail application.
