A shocking case has emerged in Osogbo, Osun State, where a man identified as Oruhu Odey was dragged before a magistrate court for allegedly parading himself as a lawyer and duping a businessman of a staggering ₦18.5 million. Odey is accused of impersonating a qualified legal practitioner, forging the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seal, and using the disguise to commit fraud.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences took place between December 2020 and May 2021. Odey, under the false pretense of being a practicing lawyer, reportedly convinced a businessman that he could assist him in purchasing two houses at Oroki Estate in Osogbo. Trusting his claims, the victim parted with millions of naira, only to later discover that he had been scammed.
During proceedings, police prosecutor Saheed Anifowose revealed that Odey not only impersonated a lawyer but also went as far as forging the official NBA stamp and seal. These forged documents were allegedly attached to a petition he addressed to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police in an attempt to further legitimize his false identity and gain the trust of unsuspecting victims.
The charges leveled against him include four serious counts—impersonation, fraud, stealing, and forgery—all of which contravene various provisions of the Osun State Criminal Code, including Section 109 on impersonation and Section 419 on fraud. When the charges were read in court, Odey pleaded not guilty.
Presiding over the matter, Magistrate Dr. Segun Ayilara ordered that the accused be remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre pending further hearing. The case was adjourned to October 21, 2025, for mention, as investigations continue into the full extent of Odey’s fraudulent activities.
This incident adds to a growing list of cases involving fake lawyers operating within Nigeria’s legal system. The Nigerian Bar Association has long raised alarm about the menace, lamenting how impostors forge its seals and exploit unsuspecting individuals. In 2021, the NBA even introduced additional security features in its official seals to combat the rising wave of forgery, yet cases continue to surface.
Only a few weeks ago, another suspected fake lawyer, Emmanuel Odeh, was arrested after allegedly practicing illegally for nearly 10 years in Lagos and Abuja while defrauding clients of large sums of money. These recurring incidents have heightened concerns about the ease with which fraudsters infiltrate the legal space and exploit ordinary Nigerians.
For many, the lesson is clear: before hiring a lawyer, clients must take extra precautions to verify the authenticity of their legal representatives through the official NBA database or other credible channels. Failure to do so can result in devastating financial and legal consequences, as cases like that of Oruhu Odey painfully illustrate.