The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested one ThankGod Okachi Echem
who was described as a fake lawyer, for defrauding his client of N7million in Port Harcourt.According to a statement issued by Wilson Uwujaren, the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Echem, who confessed to being a school certificate holder, was arrested following a petition to the agency by one of his clients, 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.
"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 beforeJustice 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 N8m as the accumulated interest on the N10m.
"The sum of N18m was consequently paid by the electricity firm to him through Echem’s chambers," Uwujaren said in the statement.
But trouble crept into the case 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. N7M was paid into it and cashed (withdrawn).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.
Echem and “his professional colleague” Agbarake, would be charged to court.
"The sum of N18m was consequently paid by the electricity firm to him through Echem’s chambers," Uwujaren said in the statement.
But trouble crept into the case 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. N7M was paid into it and cashed (withdrawn).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.
Echem and “his professional colleague” Agbarake, would be charged to court.
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