Four cybercafe operators have been remanded in the Nigeria Correctional Service facility in Aba by a Chief Magistrates’ Court 1, sitting in Aba South Local Government Area, Abia State.
The accused, Onuoha Ikechukwu (40), Daniel Lawrence (27), Odinaka Onyeforo (37), and Ndukwe Chukwu (50) were brought before the court, overseen by His Lordship, Erinma Maduagwu, facing three charges: conspiracy, impersonation, and forgery of a Power of Attorney, which is an act reserved for licensed legal practitioners.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants operated from Nos. 2F and 2J Pound Road Extension in Aba, close to the court, and had engaged in illegal activities for several years.
The first defendant, Onuoha Ikechukwu, was found in possession of over 70 forged Powers of Attorney, featuring the names of both living and deceased attorneys.
The suspects, frequently hired by lawyers for legal document preparation, are accused of stealing letterheads from these lawyers. In collaboration with other syndicates that are currently at large, they allegedly created fraudulent documents for unsuspecting clients, using the stamps and seals of deceased attorneys.
Prosecutor Uzoamaka Emmanuel noted that their actions contravened Sections 516A(a), 484, and 465, which are punishable under Section 467(1)(b) of the Criminal Code Cap 80 Vol. III Laws of Abia State of Nigeria 2005.
Counts two and three accused the defendants of impersonating licensed surveyors and legal practitioners by preparing Deeds of Power of Attorney with stolen letterheads and the names of attorneys, including Van Abakwuo and Mr. Izuchukwu Onyeoma.
The charge sheet also indicated that the suspects forged multiple Power of Attorney documents using fraudulent information and legal representation.
“Other Deeds of Power of Attorney purportedly executed by you for yet-to-be-identified persons as listed on the face of the said Deeds; so many cover pages of Power of Attorney signed by Joshua Onyekachi Emele ESQ without the name of any Donor and Donee.
“One Power of Attorney between Mr. Awa Agwu, Robert Nworo, and Onyegu Ifeanyi and other legal documents respectively, a representation you know to be false, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 484 of the Criminal Code Cap 80 Vol. III Laws of Abia State of Nigeria 2005.
“That you, Onuoha Ikechukwu ‘M’, Daniel Lawrence ‘M’, Odinakachi Onyeforo ‘M’, Ndukwe Chukwu ‘M’, and others now at large on or before the 9th day of October 2024, at Nos: 2F, 2J Pound Road Extension, Aba, in the Aba South Magisterial District, did forge and sell legal documents to members of the public, purporting the same to have been properly prepared by a solicitor/Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 465, punishable under section 467(1)(b) of the Criminal Code Cap 80 Vol. III Laws of Abia State of Nigeria 2005,” the charge sheet stated.
The defendants, represented by their attorneys, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial magistrate adjourned the case until Friday, October 25, to consider their bail application and ordered that they be remanded at the Aba Correctional Service facility.
However, Charles Oluchukwu, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association's Aba branch, who was accompanied by other lawyers at the court, remarked on the case: "These perpetrators have caused significant harm to us as lawyers. The Bar has passed a resolution that those caught engaging in such activities should be prosecuted, and we will report any colleagues who assist them in signing these documents to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee in Abuja for prosecution, with the potential for their licenses to be revoked."
Oluchukwu further stated, "I have been mandated to take action against them through a five-member committee known as the Anti-Fake Lawyers and Car Stickers Committee, led by Uchenna Ejiogu.
"The public should avoid engaging with these quacks, as most of the Powers of Attorney they claim to prepare are flawed. We will start prosecuting those who patronize them." He warned.
