POLICE ARREST FAKE LAWYER IN ZAMFARA
The Zamfara police command said it arrested a 46- year old fake lawyer, Mr Chukwuka Jude, and nine of his accomplices at a Sharia Court, Gusau, in the state.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), SP Muhammad Shehu, disclosed the arrest at a press briefing in Gusau on Monday.
He said “On 18th January, 2022 at about 1630hrs, the command received a complaint from the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Gusau branch on same date, one Chukwuka Jude 46 years old was caught inside the Higher Sharia Court T/Wada Gusau, falsely acting as a lawyer to a client.
“Police detectives promptly arrested the suspect and brought him to the SCID Gusau for discreet investigation.
“The preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect has been putting appearances in different courts at Kaura Namoda, Birnin Magaji, Shinkafi and Gusau local government areas where he was finally arrested for standing as a counsel to unsuspecting litigants for fees”, Shehu said.
“Prior to his arrest, the suspect deceived one of his victims who resides in Kuraje village under Damba district of Gusau LGA, by representing the victim at Higher Sharia Court III Gusau as a counsel, where he charged the sum of N100,000 for the service fees out of which he had collected N23,000 as part payment.
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“To further support the allegation, the suspect in a bid to escape arrest and prosecution offered N300,000 as bribe to our court duty police officer who instantly rejected the offer.
“Exhibits recovered includes, identity card of a fake Law firms N.J Monyei & Co. Chamber, office stamp and letter headed of same fake firm”, the PPRO explained.
The PPRO said another suspect who allegedly kidnaped his victim and collected N7 million ransom was arrested by operatives of the department of State Security Service and handed him over to the police command.
“In a sustained working synergy among the security agencies in Zamfara State,On 21st January, 2022 at about 1230hrs, the Department of Security Service, Zamfara State transferred a suspect and exhibits for alleged conspiracy in the kidnap of one Alhaji Yusuf Lawan Dare, at his residence in Gada Biyu area, Gusau.
He added that the suspect while undergoing interrogation confessed that “sometime in 2019, himself and his other gang members now at large conspired and masterminded the kidnap of the victim at his house located at Gada biyu area, Gusau in which N7,000,000 was paid as ransom before he regained freedom.
“The suspect confessed that, out of the ransom paid, he was given N530,000 as his own share.
“The cash N479,400 was recovered from him, with other exhibits as mentioned above.
“Discreet investigation is in progress aimed at arresting other fleeing suspects before being charged to court for prosecution”, Shehu added.
The PPRO further said that on Jan. 18, the command patrol team while on stop and search along Gummi–Daki-Takwas road, on intelligence information, arrested one Hamza Abubakar from Kebbi.
He said the suspect who was in possession of a stolen black coloured Toyota Corolla car, was heading to Kebbi from Sokoto to dispose of the vehicle.
“The preliminary investigation revealed that, the suspect has a syndicate in Sokoto and Kebbi states that specialises stealing and disposing of of vehicles.“Further investigation led to the arrest of four suspects in Sokoto and another suspect in Kebbi State.
“On 22nd January, 2022 police detectives while on investigation activities in Sokoto also recovered another stolen Toyota Corolla red in colour, property of one Habibu Garba of Kebbi state which was stolen and found in the possession of Bashar Dalhatu a member of the same syndicate.
“Investigation is in progress with a view to arresting all the members of the syndicate before being charged to Court for prosecution”, he added .
