The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bwari Branch, has apprehended a suspected serial impostor, Richard Ikenna Udeozo, for allegedly impersonating a legal practitioner at the Branch Secretariat in Abuja. The arrest occurred on Wednesday when Udeozo attempted to fraudulently collect a lawyer’s stamp and seal issued in the name of Richard Ikenna Amanoh, a verified NBA member currently residing in Canada.
According to a statement by the NBA Bwari Branch Chairman, Paul Daudu, SAN, Udeozo had created a deceptive online profile on the branch’s member portal using Amanoh’s genuine Supreme Court enrollment number. This allowed him to pose as a qualified lawyer and apply for official materials reserved for certified legal practitioners.
Security operatives at the Secretariat grew suspicious of inconsistencies in his documents and behavior. When challenged, Udeozo attempted to flee by scaling a fence but was promptly apprehended and detained. He is currently being held at the FCDA Police Station and is expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further interrogation.
The arrest was facilitated by a new security directive issued by Chairman Daudu, which mandates all members to collect stamps and seals in person at the Secretariat for identity verification—a policy that ultimately exposed Udeozo’s deception.
Branch executive member Sherifdeen Bello, who represented the NBA at the police station, confirmed that the matter would be escalated to the NBA National body for disciplinary and legal proceedings.
This is not the first time Udeozo has been caught impersonating a lawyer. He was previously arrested on March 23, 2017, in Owerri, Imo State, where he had been practicing for five years under false pretenses. At that time, he was charged with impersonation, forgery, and presenting fraudulent documents to the NBA Owerri Branch. The fake credentials, including a forged Call to Bar certificate and a fraudulent name-change publication, were all in the name of Richard Ikenna Amanoh—the same identity he attempted to use again in Abuja.
Back in 2017, Magistrate S. K. Kadurumba of the Owerri Magistrate Court remanded Udeozo in prison custody, following submissions by both the NBA Owerri Branch and the police, who described him as a serial bail jumper and a threat to the integrity of the legal profession. The accused had defended himself in court, claiming his original Call to Bar certificate had fallen into water.
The NBA Bwari Branch reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the integrity of the legal profession and ensuring that impostors like Udeozo are held accountable. Members of the public and legal community have been urged to report any suspicious activity promptly.
