Fake lawyer arraigned in court for impersonation

November 1, 2016 11:04 PM

The police have arraigned a woman to court on impersonation charges after parading herself as a lawyer.

32 year old man in court for stealing mobile phone.

A woman identified as

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Abubakar Ibrahim revealed that the police received a petition from Augustine Agum, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Zaria branch on behalf of the association on October 17 which bordered on impersonation, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

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The court heard that the accused was parading herself as a lawyer without being qualified or trained as one.

Ibrahim told the court that police investigation revealed that the accused is yet to affirm nor deny the allegation against her. The offence reportedly contravened Section 179 Penal Code.

NAN reports that Fatima later confessed to the crime adding that circumstances forced her into it.

However, the accused retracted her guilty plea after the prosecutor applied for her summary trial under Section 157 of Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

Fatima's counsel, Abdurrasaq Ahmed, later applied for bail, saying that the alleged offence was bailable.

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The Chief Magistrate, Auwal Musa, said, “It is not an easy case because it tempers with the reputation and credibility of members of the bar profession, therefore, we are all affected."

He granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in the like sum adding that the sureties must present bank account statements, letter from a traditional ruler, authentic residential address and telephone number.

Musa later adjoined the case till November 15 for hearing.