Mr. Obinna Orezue, the 30-year-old man who was arrested last week for impersonating a lawyer at the Otuocha High Court 2 Division, has been sentenced to 90 days imprisonment with hard labour for contempt in facie curia. The judgement was delivered today by the presiding judge, who found Orezue guilty of the offence.
Orezue, an indigene of Abba in Anambra State, admitted during the trial that he had studied political science and not law. He pleaded passionately for leniency, stating that he had five children to feed and that his wife was jobless. His wife also contributed to the drama by squatting on the floor and pleading for leniency on behalf of her husband.
Despite their pleas, the judge delivered a thorough, lucid, vivid, comprehensive, and authoritative judgement on the case of contempt in facie curia.
Orezue was arrested last week while attempting to represent the plaintiff in suit no. OT/120/2022. During questioning by the presiding judge, he was unable to provide the correct information about the appropriate course of action if the defendant refused to file a process. The judge then asked another lawyer in the courtroom to assist, but Orezue failed to repeat the correct answer provided by the lawyer.
Further questioning revealed inconsistencies in Orezue’s educational background, with the suspect initially claiming to have attended universities in Kano and UNIZIK, graduating in 2015, but later stating that he attended the University of Igbariam and was called to the bar in 2019. He also admitted to facing financial challenges.
Investigations revealed that Orezue had not submitted his credentials to his employer, M.T OLISE-EKE, a law firm based in Onitsha, prior to the incident. The presiding judge has ordered Orezue’s employer to appear in court next Wednesday for further clarification and possible prosecution.
The case serves as a strong warning to those who attempt to deceive the court and undermine the integrity of the legal system, highlighting the severe consequences of impersonating legal professionals.
