Gombe court remands man accused of posing as a lawyer
Freedom Nweke pleaded not guilty. The court adjourned the case to 17 November to give his lawyer time to file a formal bail application.
Chief Magistrate Court No. 9 in Gombe remanded Freedom Nweke on Tuesday, 10 November, over allegations that he posed as a lawyer and ran a law firm without being registered to practise, The Punch reported. Nweke, 36, pleaded not guilty.
What the prosecution alleges
State prosecutor B.A. Mahmoud told the court that Nweke allegedly ran a firm called Diamond Chambers at Umma Plaza in Gombe between July 2025 and March 2026. Mahmoud said Nweke presented himself as Barrister Andre A. Lion. The prosecutor cited Section 132 of the Penal Code Law.
Defence applies for bail
Defence counsel E.C. Uwakwe made an oral bail application after Nweke entered his plea. Uwakwe said his client was presumed innocent and indicated that the defence was open to exploring a plea bargain.
Chief Magistrate Aliyu Adamu Galadima ordered that Nweke be held at the Gombe Medium Custodial Centre. He adjourned the case to 17 November 2026 to allow the defence to file a formal bail application. Members of the Gombe branch of the Nigerian Bar Association attended the proceedings.