The incident occurred at the Lagos State High Court during proceedings involving the man, who was reportedly present to represent a client.
According to footage circulating online, the judge became suspicious of the man’s status and challenged his right to appear as a legal practitioner.
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The judge then directed him to remove his courtroom attire and ordered the police to arrest him.
“Remove that wig. I’m ordering his arrest right away. Police, arrest him!” the judge was heard saying.
The judge subsequently described the man as an impostor and repeated the instruction to officers at the scene.
“Officer, there’s an impostor here. This man is not a lawyer. Remove your wig and gown. You are not a lawyer. I want you to arrest him,” the judge said.
The situation reportedly became more tense after the arrest order, with the man allegedly attempting to leave the courtroom.
Police officers subsequently moved to take control of the situation.
Details of the man’s identity, the case he was appearing in and the specific circumstances that led the judge to question his professional status were not immediately available in the reports reviewed.
The development has nevertheless drawn attention to the serious consequences associated with allegedly presenting oneself as a qualified legal practitioner.
Fresh attention on legal impersonation
The Lagos incident comes amid renewed attention on cases involving alleged impersonation within the legal profession.
About a month earlier, the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja convicted a 55-year-old man for impersonating a legal practitioner and fraudulently using a counterfeit seal of the Nigerian Bar Association.
That earlier case highlighted the risks posed when individuals without the required professional status attempt to provide legal representation or use documents and symbols associated with the Nigerian legal profession.
The latest Lagos fake lawyer incident has similarly raised questions about how such individuals gain access to courtrooms and present themselves as lawyers before being identified.
While the man in Thursday’s incident was ordered to be arrested, allegations of impersonation remain subject to due process and any subsequent investigation or court proceedings.
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The episode has also served as a striking reminder that courtroom attire alone does not establish a person’s professional qualification or authority to practise law.
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Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
