Gombe court sends man pretending to be lawyer to custody

A Chief Magistrate Court No. 9 in Gombe has ordered that a 36-year-old man, Freedom Nweke, also known as Andre A. Lion, be held at the Gombe Medium Custodial Centre. This is over accusations of pretending to be a lawyer.

Nweke, who comes from Bukuru in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, is said to have falsely claimed to be a lawyer while running a law firm in Gombe.

The state prosecutor, Barrister B.A. Mahmoud, told the court that from July 2025 to March 2026, Nweke allegedly ran a law firm called Diamond Chambers. This firm was located at Umma Plaza in Sabonline, Gombe.

Mahmoud claimed that Nweke acted as Barrister Andre A. Lion and even received a visit from officials of the Nigerian Bar Association, Gombe State Branch, who thought he was a real lawyer.

The prosecutor stated, “The defendant presented himself as a legal practitioner and operated a law firm despite not being a registered lawyer.”

He added that this act goes against Section 132 of the Penal Code Law.

When the charge was read to him, Nweke pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, Barrister E.C. Uwakwe, then asked the court for bail. He based his request on Section 177 of the Gombe State Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Uwakwe argued that “the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and we urge the court to admit him to bail in line with the provisions of the law.” He also mentioned that they were open to discussing a plea bargain.

The court, led by Honourable Justice Aliyu Adamu Galadima, decided to keep Nweke at the Gombe Medium Custodial Centre. The case has been postponed until November 17, 2026, to allow the defence to submit a formal bail application.

Some members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Gombe State Branch, were present in court to observe the case. They included K.K. Jimoh, Esq.; Babangida Sambo, Esq.; Hayatu, Esq.; and F.T. Waziri, Esq.