An 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 impersonation 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 back for appearing in court as a lawyer when he is not.
A viral video circulated on social media showed the suspect being interrogated by the judge during court proceedings and subsequently handed over to security operatives.
The court, 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 Okechukwu Onunkwo, during his arraignment, the contemptor confessed that he studied Political Science at the university; not Law, but that he has 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 staff with 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 an 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 may wish to toe such a path to run away, as the court may 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 an act.
