Bwari, FCT – April 23, 2025
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bwari Branch, has apprehended a suspected impostor, Richard Ikenna Udeuzo, at the Branch Secretariat following allegations of impersonating a legal practitioner. The arrest took place earlier today when Udeuzo was caught attempting to collect a lawyer’s stamp and seal issued in the name of Richard Ikenna Amanoh, a verified member of the Branch who has since relocated to Canada.
According to a statement issued by the Chairman of the NBA Bwari Branch, Paul Daudu, SAN, the suspect had successfully created a fraudulent profile through the NBA Bwari Branch online portal, deceitfully linking it to the genuine Supreme Court enrolment number of the said legal practitioner. This manipulation allowed the impostor to present himself as a bonafide lawyer and seek official materials from the Bar.
It was further discovered that Udeuzo has a history of similar offences and has previously been arrested in other jurisdictions for impersonating legal practitioners.
His luck ran out today when he visited the Branch Secretariat to collect the purported stamp and seal. Alert security operatives noticed irregularities and detained him after a failed attempt to escape by jumping over the fence. His apprehension is credited to the swift response and vigilance of the Secretariat’s security team.
The development follows a security directive issued by the proactive Chairman of the NBA Bwari Branch, Paul Daudu, SAN, which mandated that all branch members must collect their stamps and seals directly from the Branch Secretariat. This policy was introduced to ensure heightened security, verify identities at the point of collection, and forestall fraudulent activities of this nature.
It was also confirmed that prior to this directive, the impostor had repeatedly visited the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja to collect stamps under the assumed identity. The decisive order by the Branch Chairman, requiring collection at the branch level only, played a key role in foiling today’s attempted fraud and led directly to Udeuzo’s arrest.
Executive member Sherifdeen Bello represented the Branch at the FCDA Police Station, where the suspect is currently detained. He is expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further questioning and investigation.
The matter will be officially reported to the NBA National body for further disciplinary and legal action, as the NBA Bwari Branch reiterates its commitment to protecting the integrity of the legal profession and ensuring that impersonators face the full weight of the law.
Members of the Branch are advised to remain alert and report any suspicious activities to the Secretariat. The Branch leadership has pledged to continue updating members as the case progresses.
