Anti-fraud operatives attached to Zone XI Police Headquarters, Osogbo, Osun State, have arrested a middle-aged man, identified as Odeh Emmanuel, for allegedly posing as a lawyer for nearly a decade and duping unsuspecting Nigerians of more than N50m.
The suspect was nabbed within the premises of a court in Abeokuta, Ogun State on August 28, 2025, where he was standing as a legal representative for an unsuspecting client.
He is currently being interrogated at the X-Squad Department under the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in Osogbo.
Investigations revealed that Emmanuel had operated in Osogbo between 2018 and 2021, presenting himself as a qualified lawyer and handling several legal matters.
The suspect duped numerous innocent Nigerians of their hard-earned money under various pretenses, including legal representation, estate agency, and public consultancy. He claimed to have offices in both Lagos and Abuja.
The arrest was made possible through meticulous, discreet and painstaking investigation by the X-Squad Section, following a petition received from one of the victims who suspected foul play.
His cover was blown after he was challenged to produce his Call to Bar certificate, which he failed to present, prompting him to flee the city.
According to the First Information Report, the suspect allegedly swindled clients and members of the public of over N50m through his fake legal practice before being apprehended.
In reaction, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Osogbo branch, Mr Mauruf Adediran, led other officials, including the Welfare Secretary, on a visit to the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the X-Squad. They were briefed on the progress of the investigation and the scale of the alleged fraud.
Speaking with journalists after the visit, Adediran condemned Emmanuel’s activities, describing them as a dent on the legal profession and a grave injustice to innocent Nigerians who were deceived and financially ruined.
He vowed that the NBA would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion, insisting that the suspect must face prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others attempting to impersonate legal practitioners.
Police sources disclosed that the case had reached an advanced stage and that the suspect would be charged to court next week.
