The members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch Anti-Impersonation committee led by the Chairman of the Committee Ihediohanma F. Akponye, Esq, has visited the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, Abutu Yaro for a stop of the menace.
The committee decried the spate of fraud that is ravaging the state and informed the Commissioner that the essence of the visit/parley was to strike a partner towards ridding the society of the malady.
The Chairman of the Committee specially thanked the CP for the unalloyed concern and determination he has demonstrated in a healthy and desirable quest to work with lawyers in fishing out impersonators of the profession within his short stay in the State. He observed that Imo State is now riddled with fraud caused by persons that impersonate as lawyers.
He respectfully requested the CP to set up a special team of police officers that will work hand in glove with the Anti impersonation committee of the NBA to identify and flush out fake lawyers and unscrupulous elements who illegally engage and carry on some businesses that are the exclusive preserves of members of the legal profession thereby hurting the trust of the public and the economy of the State.
The CP thanked immensely the members of the committee and promised that the police force will have a synergy with the Anti Impersonation Committee and the Bar at large to flush out impersonators.
The CP said that a special team of police will be constituted immediately as one of the measures to work with the NBA in stamping out imposters in the legal profession that is now hurting the economy of Imo State. The CP also stated that a signal shall be sent to all the DPOs across the State on the operations of the special police team.The team shall among other things assist the committee in the arrest and investigation of unscrupulous persons and agents who illegally prepare legal documents and use insignia of lawyers.
The Chairman while addressing the press after the visit warned all those engaging in any conduct that has anything to do with law practice to keep away from such and stop forthwith. He warned that business centers who store and produce legal documents for persons who are impostors are also guilty and will not be spared. He advised persons who tamper, handle or prepare legal documents as if they are lawyers or that carry the insignia of lawyers to stop engaging in such as the long arm of the law will catch up with them.
