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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Nigerian fake lawyer practised for 15 years in Lagos | Nigerian fake lawyer practised for 15 years in Lagos |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Nigerian man pretending to be a solicitor for 15 years has been charged for impersonation, the police say. | A Nigerian man pretending to be a solicitor for 15 years has been charged for impersonation, the police say. |
| The 49-year-old man was arrested earlier this week as he was making a bail application for his client in a Lagos state court. | The 49-year-old man was arrested earlier this week as he was making a bail application for his client in a Lagos state court. |
| Police spokesman Chike Oti told the BBC the man could not articulate his legal argument and was challenged by another lawyer present in court. | Police spokesman Chike Oti told the BBC the man could not articulate his legal argument and was challenged by another lawyer present in court. |
| The suspect pleaded not guilty and was granted bail. | |
| Why did officials become suspicious? | Why did officials become suspicious? |
| Mr Oti said the man had been practising for the past 15 years undetected. | Mr Oti said the man had been practising for the past 15 years undetected. |
| Working with lawyers, the man had some "elementary knowledge of how they [lawyers] go about their business - but he's not a professional", the police spokesman told the BBC's Newsday programme. | Working with lawyers, the man had some "elementary knowledge of how they [lawyers] go about their business - but he's not a professional", the police spokesman told the BBC's Newsday programme. |
| Suspicions about his qualifications arose during court proceedings in a criminal case on Tuesday. | Suspicions about his qualifications arose during court proceedings in a criminal case on Tuesday. |
| He wanted to vary the bail conditions for his client but "did not know how to go about it", Mr Oti said. | |
| He added that a lawyer present in the courtroom immediately challenged the suspect, saying that a bar-registered lawyer should be able to deal with a bail issue. | He added that a lawyer present in the courtroom immediately challenged the suspect, saying that a bar-registered lawyer should be able to deal with a bail issue. |
| Local media reports say the man told police that he had studied law at a Ukrainian university - but had yet to be called to the bar in Nigeria. | Local media reports say the man told police that he had studied law at a Ukrainian university - but had yet to be called to the bar in Nigeria. |
| Despite this, he has reportedly won several court cases. | Despite this, he has reportedly won several court cases. |