The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says it has
arrested one Thankgod Echem it described as a fake lawyer for defrauding
his client of seven million naira in Port Harcourt.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Wilson Uwujaren, the commission`s Head of Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Monday.
Uwujaren said Echem, who confessed to being a school certificate
holder, was arrested following a petition to the EFCC by one of his
clients, Mr Jonny Wali.
“Wali alleged that the fake lawyer defrauded him of seven million,
being part of the money awarded him by a Rivers State High Court in Port
Harcourt.
“The money was compensation in a legal battle involving Wali and
former Power Holding Company of Nigeria now Port Harcourt Electricity
Distribution Company.
“Wali sued the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company in a
matter bordering on land trespass in suit number PHC/468/09 before
Justice W.A.Chey Chey of the Rivers State High Court.
“Wali was awarded 10 million naira as compensation,’’ Uwujaren said.
He added that the company, however, failed to pay the compensation to him.
“In seeking payment of the money, Wali employed the legal services of Thankgod Okachi Echem and Felix Agbarake.
“In 2015, the court ruled in his favour and granted him eight million naira as the accumulated interest on the 10 million naira.
“The sum of 18 million naira was consequently paid by the electricity
company to him through Echem’s chambers’’, Uwujaren said in the
statement.
He said trouble crept into the matter when Echem, who was later found
to be a fake lawyer, connived with his colleague and opened an account
with a first generation bank.
“The account was opened in Wali`s name without his consent. Seven million naira was paid into it and cashed (withdrawn).
“When Echem was confronted with these facts, he confessed that he was just a school certificate holder posing as a lawyer.
“A search was conducted in his house and yielded some incriminating
documents including a wig and robe belonging to ThankGod Okachi Echem,’’
Uwujaren said.
He said Echem and “his professional colleague’’ Agbarake, would be arrainged soon.
NAN
