A legal practitioner, Ewa Okpo Edmund, has been arrested by the Uyo Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly presenting forged medical report to procure the bail of his client, Noble Dainge Tamunoateli, an alleged internet fraudster currently under prosecution for criminal impersonation and possession of over N14m proceed of crime.
The offence committed by Edmund, popularly known as ‘ Street Lawyer’, is contrary to Section 22 (2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc ) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 ( 2 ) ( b ) ( iv ) of the same Act.
Trouble started for the lawyer when on receiving the bail documents, operatives of the Commission proceeded to University of Calabar Teaching Hospital to verify the authenticity of the medical report which looked suspicious as his client had undergone several medical checks, including COVID-19 test and had never shown any sign of ulcer as indicated in the report.
The report from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital indicated clearly that the positive ‘H-Pilori’ test report attached to the bail application of Tamunoateli did not emanate from the hospital.
It also stated that Tamunoateli has never been a patient at the hospital, and that the doctor that signed the forged medical report was not a staff of UNCTH.
Consequently, the suspect is currently in EFCC net has the commission continues investigation into the matter.