News
CSCCN Calls for Probe of Alleged Legal Impersonation, Forgery by Two Individuals
Cyril Ogar
The Civil Society Coalition Against Corruption in Nigeria (CSCCN) has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate allegations of identity theft, forgery, impersonation and unauthorised legal practice involving Tunde Ogunsakin and Angela Oviawe.
The coalition made the call at a press conference held on Monday in Abuja, where its Chief Convener, Comrade Omoba Michael, urged relevant authorities to verify the professional credentials of the two individuals and take appropriate legal action if the allegations are substantiated.
Michael said the demand followed Freedom of Information requests submitted by Overt Legacy and Human Development Initiative to the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, seeking official clarification regarding the professional status of Ogunsakin and Oviawe.
According to the coalition, the requests, dated April 24 and May 6, 2026, also sought clarification about legal services allegedly offered through Tunde Ogunsakin & Co., with an office at No. 101, Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi District, Abuja.
Michael said the Supreme Court, in a letter dated May 21, 2026, responded that the names of Ayotunde Johnson Ogunsakin, Tunde Ogunsakin and Angela Oviawe were not found on the Roll of Legal Practitioners.
The coalition also raised concerns about reports that Ogunsakin’s law firm operated offices in London, United Kingdom, and Virginia, United States.
It further referenced a 2010 publication by Modern Ghana alleging that Ogunsakin was investigated by the University of Abuja over examination malpractice while pursuing a Bachelor of Laws degree and was subsequently expelled following an internal disciplinary process.
The coalition questioned whether he subsequently obtained the requisite academic qualifications to proceed to the Nigerian Law School.
However, the allegations remain subject to independent verification and investigation by the relevant authorities.
Michael said Overt had submitted petitions dated October 9, 2026, to several institutions, including the ICPC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Council of Legal Education, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
The British High Commission and the United States Embassy were also reportedly petitioned over the alleged operations of the firm in their respective jurisdictions.
Citing Section 2(1) of the Legal Practitioners Act, the coalition maintained that only individuals whose names appear on the Roll of Legal Practitioners maintained by the Supreme Court are entitled to practise as barristers and solicitors in Nigeria.
It also referenced Section 22(1) of the Act, which provides penalties for specified acts involving unqualified persons holding themselves out as legal practitioners.
The coalition further cited Sections 364 and 366 of the Penal Code Act applicable in the Federal Capital Territory, relating to forgery and the knowing use of forged documents as genuine.
Among its demands, CSCCN urged the ICPC and police to investigate the allegations and pursue prosecution where sufficient evidence and legal grounds exist.
It also called on the Council of Legal Education, NBA and LPDC to examine the activities of Tunde Ogunsakin & Co. and take appropriate regulatory action if unauthorised legal practice is established.
The coalition urged the British and American authorities to refer the alleged operations of the firm in their jurisdictions to the appropriate regulatory bodies for verification and investigation.
It further requested that documents allegedly prepared, signed, filed or issued without the requisite professional authority be examined, with any necessary legal steps taken to protect affected individuals.
Michael called on President Bola Tinubu, through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to facilitate inter-agency coordination and engagement with relevant foreign authorities.
The coalition gave the institutions and public authorities it had petitioned 48 hours to demonstrate that meaningful steps had been initiated to address the allegations.
It warned that failure to respond appropriately would prompt a peaceful mass protest at the ICPC and Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja.
Michael stressed that the coalition’s intervention was intended to protect the integrity of the legal profession and safeguard members of the public from potential deception.
He urged the media and concerned citizens to support the campaign for accountability, insisting that the allegations should be addressed through due process and the enforcement of applicable laws.
News
Cyclists, Athletes, Fitness Communities others Set for 5th Chaingang MTB Festival in Abuja
By Joel Ajayi
Cyclists, professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts are set to converge on Abuja for the 5th edition of the Abuja Chaingang Mountain Bike (MTB) Festival and 10th year anniversary of the the club scheduled for November 21–22, 2026, in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Chairman of the MTB Festival Organising Committee, Mr Olatunji Olanrewaju, said the event would mark a significant milestone in the development of competitive cycling in Nigeria.
Organised by the Chaingang Cycling Club Abuja in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), the festival will introduce Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) race courses, alongside the unveiling of the Sunrise Hills MTB Course in Asokoro, bordering Guzape.
The organisers said the new courses feature natural terrain, steep climbs, rocky descents, switchbacks and panoramic ridgelines designed to challenge riders and promote competitive mountain biking.
The festival, adopted as Nigeria’s national qualifier for international mountain biking competitions, will provide cyclists with opportunities to compete for qualification slots for major championships, with prize money available across race categories.
Olanrewaju disclosed that the festival had attracted several cycling teams over the years, including foreign participants in almost every edition, expressing optimism that the 2026 event would attract even greater participation.
He called on sponsors, government agencies, security institutions and multinational organisations to support the festival, noting that their participation would help strengthen Nigeria’s outdoor sports industry and enhance the country’s international sporting profile.
Also speaking, the Technical Director of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Bashiru Mohammed, described the festival as an important platform for developing cycling and strengthening the country’s cycling community.
Mohammed said the competition was open to cyclists and cycling groups across Nigeria and beyond, adding that the organisers would share information about the event with international partners to encourage wider participation.
He explained that the professional races would feature male and female competitors in the XCC and XCO categories, while the programme would also include activities for children.
According to him, the competition would help Nigerian cyclists prepare for next year’s championship for emerging countries, which he likened to an Olympic-style gathering of athletes from different sporting disciplines.
In his remarked, the CFN Secretary-General of the federation, Joel Akinuwa, said prize money remained an important feature of the festival, noting that participants in the previous edition received financial rewards in addition to opportunities to qualify for the African Championships and other major international competitions.
Akinuwa added that winners across the various categories in the 2026 edition would also receive prize money, providing further motivation for cyclists to compete.
Beyond the elite races, the two-day festival will feature a trail run, children’s mountain bike race, veterans’ recreational ride, city-wide fitness ride and hiking campout.
The event will also incorporate corporate social responsibility initiatives, including the Jigakushi School Restoration Project and the Road Safety Street Mural Initiative, aimed at promoting community development and road safety awareness.
The organisers said the festival would bring together professional athletes, recreational cyclists, families, young people, fitness enthusiasts, media organisations and international observers, while promoting tourism, youth development and community engagement.
They added that the long-term vision was to position Abuja and Nigeria as leading mountain biking destinations in Africa, capable of hosting international competitions and attracting athletes from across the continent and beyond.
Registration for the 2026 Abuja Chaingang MTB Festival is ongoing through the club’s website, www.chaingang.ng.
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