An impostor posing as a High Court advocate for a period of five years has been apprehended in Kenya

An individual posing as a lawyer, Ralph Edward Nguma Nzwii, has been apprehended in Kenya. Nzwii faced charges before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina on October 25, 2023, accused of three offenses: forgery, presenting falsified documents, and impersonating a legal advocate.

The Director of Public Prosecution informed the court that an investigation carried out by the DCI detectives revealed that Nzwii, the counterfeit lawyer, had been representing numerous litigants in various matters and courts across the country since 2018.

It is alleged that on October 24, 2018, at the Mombasa High Court of Kenya, Commercial and Admiralty Division, the suspect, who lacked the necessary qualifications to practice law, purported to represent a Chinese national, Liu Dong Sheng, in Miscellaneous Application No. 362 of 2018 (China New Era Vs. Ocean View Residency Limited and Whintto Architects (K) Limited) before the Deputy Registrar of the High Court.

Furthermore, on February 24, 2022, at an undisclosed location within the Republic of Kenya, Nzwii allegedly forged a release agreement with the intent to deceive, falsely representing it as a legitimate release agreement made and signed by Arwa and Change Advocates, releasing themselves from their role as special administrators representing the Estate of the Yongi Family.

On April 28, 2022, at Milimani High Court Commercial Division in Nairobi County, Kenya, it is claimed that he knowingly and fraudulently presented a forged release agreement, falsely portraying it as a genuine document made and signed by Arwa and Change Advocates.

Nzwii, while maintaining his innocence, appealed to the magistrate for lenient bail terms. Nevertheless, both the prosecution and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) have opposed his release on bail, asserting that the case is of public interest and that he poses a flight risk.

In response to these concerns, the magistrate ordered Nzwii to be held in custody at the Industrial Area Remand Prison pending a pre-bail report.

This arrest follows closely on the heels of Law Society of Kenya President Eric Theuri’s call for the prosecution of Brian Mwenda, who was also exposed as a “fake lawyer” after winning all his cases.