Police in Ogun State arrest Emmanuel Odeh, a suspected fake lawyer who allegedly posed as an attorney for 10 years in Lagos, Abuja, and Abeokuta courts.
The Nigerian Police, Zone XI Police Headquarters has arrested a suspected impostor, Emmanuel Odeh, who allegedly posed as a qualified lawyer for almost a decade while handling cases in Lagos, Abuja, and other parts of the country.
His arrest has raised fresh concerns about the activities of fake professionals who exploit unsuspecting Nigerians.
According to a statement released on Saturday, August 30, by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police (SP), Ade Ogunyemi, Odeh’s arrest was carried out by officers of the X-Squad Section of Zone XI Headquarters.
The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Akinloye Oyegade, who confirmed that the suspect was apprehended inside a court premises in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
The police explained that Odeh was nabbed while appearing as legal counsel for a client in open court.
Investigations later revealed that he had been parading himself under the professional identity of “A.O. Emmanuel, Legal Practitioner and Public Consultant.”
For nearly ten years, he reportedly built a deceptive reputation, representing unsuspecting clients and allegedly profiting from fraudulent legal services.
Police sources disclosed that Odeh had been on their radar following multiple intelligence reports linking him to cases of impersonation, forgery, and fraud.
His arrest was described as the result of weeks of surveillance and discreet background checks carried out by the Zone XI X-Squad team.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone XI Headquarters, Osogbo, Emuobo Ekokotu, while commenting on the arrest, cautioned Nigerians against falling victim to impostors masquerading as professionals.
He urged members of the public to verify the status of any lawyer with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) before engaging their services.
“Victims of fake lawyers risk losing their hard-earned money, being subjected to poor and incompetent legal representation, having their cases compromised in court, and even suffering irreparable damage to their reputation,” the AIG warned.
Ekokotu further stressed that the police would continue to clamp down on criminals who exploit citizens through professional impersonation.
He described Odeh’s case as a wake-up call for both law enforcement and the general public.
“This arrest should serve as a deterrent to others who think they can fraudulently pose as legal practitioners to defraud innocent people.
“The police will never hesitate to prosecute such individuals. The long arm of the law will always catch up with them,” he said.
The police spokesperson also confirmed that Odeh is currently in custody and undergoing further interrogation. Upon the completion of investigations, he will be charged to court to face the full weight of the law.
Meanwhile, legal experts and civil rights advocates have called for stricter measures to curb the activities of impostors in the justice sector.
They argue that beyond police arrests, there should be stronger collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the Nigerian Bar Association to prevent similar cases in the future.
The case has sparked discussions about how easily impostors can infiltrate sensitive professions in Nigeria, thereby endangering lives, justice delivery, and public trust.
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