Justice Okechukwu Onunkwo of the Anambra State High Court sitting at Otuocha located in Anambra East Local Government of the state, on Wednesday, sentenced one Obinna Oraezue to 90 days imprisonment for impersonating as a lawyer.
Oraezue was remanded at the Onitsha Correctional Centre in Onitsha with hard labour, for contempt of court.
He was arrested at a High Court in Otuocha, a few weeks ago, for appearing in court as a lawyer when he is not.
A viral video had circulated on social media recently showing when the suspect was being interrogated by the judge during court proceedings and subsequently handed over to security operatives.
The judge, while sentencing him, also referred the case of M.T. Olisaeke Law firm that hired the “contemptor” as a “junior lawyer” 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, but could not refer to the basic tenets of the profession.
This raised suspicions among lawyers in the court; including the judge, leading to his interrogation and subsequent arrest.
Upon interrogation by the presiding judge, Justice Onunkwo, during his arraignment, the “contemptor” confessed that he studied Political Science at the university; not Law, but that he had a passion for legal practice.
He further explained that he had just spent about a month in the law firm that hired him, and that he had never represented anyone in any of the Nigerian courts in the past.
Pleading for forgiveness and leniency of the court, Oraezue noted that it was the economic hardship in the country that pushed him into the act; after he had worked as a contract employee with the Onitsha South Local Government Area.
He added that he has five children and an unemployed wife to take care of.
In his judgement, Justice Onunkwo slammed the “contemptor” with a three-month sentence; with hard labour, with effect from June 13, 2024, when he was arrested.
The judge said the sentence was mild because the court considered the “contemptor’s” pleas, adding, 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, and advised others who might wish to toe such a path to run away, as the court might not be that lenient in future.
The state NBA expressed satisfaction over the sentencing, adding 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 who may want to commit such act.
“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,” it stated in a statement.
