By Anayo Okoli
There is now a groundswell of complaints by clients in Aba, Abia State, who accuse their lawyers of defrauding them of huge sums of money.

Some of the complainants have, indeed, petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, over the matter because of its frequent occurrence.

But Chairman of the NBA in Aba, Mr. Uche Awa, in a quick reaction, admitted that there were some bad eggs in the legal profession, as in other calling, but stressed that the association had not been sparing the bad ones.

A case in point is Mr Princewill Okorie, who dragged his lawyer before ABA NBA disciplinary committee, alleging that he had been swindled by his lawyer.

Also before the committee is a teacher, Nze Jerry Nwankpa, who is currently battling it out with his lawyer, Chikwendu Kalu, over alleged fraud.

Okorie alleged that his lawyer connived with his landlord, one Nkemakolam Uduma, to defraud him in tenancy transaction.

Okorie said he secured an accommodation through his lawyer and in the process discovered that some repairs had to be effected in the flat, including changing some doors and window panels.

He explained that he was to effect the repairs and have the cost built into the rent he paid for the house, stressing that instead of having the N68,000 spent effecting the repairs, his lawyer and the landlord dragged him to Osisioma Magistrate Court where he was issued a quit notice, without any move to refund the cost he incurred repairing the apartment.

He also alleged that at the court, some judicial officers aided his lawyer to perpetrate injustice to him.

His matter also went to Aba NBA Displinary Committee which handled the matter but the case failed.

However, the panel blamed one Dr. U. C. Njoku for the woes of Okorie, saying he did not follow the case with due diligence, but it was not clear if the bar recommended any punishment for Njoku.

Not satisfied, Okorie petitioned the ICPC over the conduct of the judicial officers that handled the matter at Osisioma Magistrate Court, while the anti-graft agency had since carried out its investigation but refused to release its report, despite incessant pressure. So the matter is still pending at ICPC, as Okorie  continues his fight for justice.

For Nze Nwankpa, his case is more pathetic as he claimed to have given his lawyer the sum of N1.2 million to acquire a property for him.

The money, he claimed, was given cash to the lawyer in his office at Binez Hotel in the presence of witnesses.

He said after some time he asked for the papers from his lawyer who implored him to exercise patience. As time went by, according to him, the documents were not forthcoming, saying he kept calm because the lawyer was from his area.

Nwankpa alleged that the lawyer surprisingly came with two policemen to arrest him, fabricating an allegation that he sent armed robbers to rob him of N800,000.

Nwankpa, who alleged that his lawyer resold his property for N2.5 million, had not only taken the matter to court, but also petitioned the NBA in Aba.