Nigerian Law Society petitions IGP over alleged Impersonation, fraud involving Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja and others

The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over alleged impersonation, fraud, forgery and the unauthorised use of its name by Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, Ambassador Dahiru Aliyu and their associates.

The petition, dated Monday, September 14, 2026, accuses the individuals of allegedly using the name and institutional identity of the NLS to solicit money, applications, participation and patronage from members of the public.

According to a public notice issued by the NLS National Secretariat, Jaja was employed as the society’s Executive Director from July 12, 2024, to July 21, 2025, when he resigned.
The society alleged that following his resignation, Jaja began claiming ownership of the Nigerian Law Society, despite the non-renewal of his tenure.

The petition reportedly raises concerns over the alleged registration of a parallel organisation bearing the name “Nigerian Law Society” with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

It also refers to a proposed conference at Top Rank Hotel, Utako, Abuja; the alleged fraudulent “Blue Silk” award; and an unauthorised 12-week legislative drafting course purportedly presented as a partnership with the University of Abuja.

The NLS further cited a Daily Post online report published on August 16, 2026, which it attributed to Jaja.

The society urged members of the public to exercise caution and avoid dealing with individuals or groups claiming to represent the NLS without authorisation from its recognised leadership.

It stated that the legitimate Nigerian Law Society remains under the leadership of Chief Mela Audu Nunghe, SAN, as President, and Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, OFR, as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

The society added that all its official communications and activities are conducted through its recognised National Secretariat.

The public notice listed several documents attached to the petition, including Jaja’s letter of appointment, his resignation email, a purported conference notice, the call for applications for the “Blue Silk” award, and an enrolled judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/482/2023 of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.

The petition was copied to several Nigerian and international offices, including the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Director-General of SMEDAN, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja and the President of the Law Society of Lesotho.

FULL RELEASE BELOW

NIGERIAN LAW SOCIETY (NLS)
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE NIGERIAN LAW SOCIETY SUBMITS PETITION TO THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE AGAINST DR. TONYE CLINTON JAJA, AMBASSADOR DAHIRU ALIYU AND THEIR ASSOCIATES OVER ALLEGED IMPERSONATION AND FRAUD USING ITS NAME

The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) on Monday, 14th September 2026, submitted a petition to the Inspector-General of Police against Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, Ambassador Dahiru Aliyu and their associates over alleged impersonation, fraud, forgery and unlawful use of the name and institutional personality of the NLS.

Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja was an employee of the Nigerian Law Society, having been engaged as its Executive Director from 12th July 2024 to 21st July 2025, when he resigned. His tenure was not renewed. Strangely, he thereafter began to claim ownership of the Nigerian Law Society.

The petition details, among other things, the purported registration of a parallel entity bearing the name “Nigerian Law Society” with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN); a planned conference at Top Rank Hotel, Utako, Abuja; the fraudulent “Blue Silk” award; and an unauthorised 12-week legislative drafting course falsely presented as a partnership with the University of Abuja. It also references a Daily Post online report of 16th August 2026 attributed to Dr. Jaja.

The general public is hereby warned to be wary of any person or group parading itself as the Nigerian Law Society, or soliciting money, applications, participation or patronage in the name of the NLS without the authorisation of its legitimate leadership.

The legitimate Nigerian Law Society remains under the leadership of Chief Mela Audu Nunghe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as President, and Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), as Chairman, Board of Trustees. All official communications and activities of the NLS are conducted through its recognised National Secretariat.

The following relevant documents are attached for the information of the public:

1. Letter of Appointment of Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja
2. Email of Acceptance and Stipend Request
3. Resignation Email of Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja
4. Expulsion Notice issued by Ambassador Dahiru Aliyu to the Court of Appeal
5. Public Notice of Purported Conference at Top Rank Hotel
6. Call for Applications for the “Blue Silk” Award
7. Enrolled Order of the Judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/482/2023 (Federal High Court, Abuja Division)

The following offices were copied in the petition:

1. The Honourable Minister of Law and Justice, Kingdom of Lesotho
2. Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)
3. Chief Justice of the Kingdom of Lesotho
4. Chief Justice of Nigeria
5. President of the Law Society of Lesotho
6. Dean, Faculty of Law, National University of Lesotho
7. Director General, Department of State Security Service, Abuja
8. Attorney General of the Federation, Nigeria
9. 9.The Manager, First Bank Nigeria PlC, Abuja Branch
10. Hon. Justice Malcolm Simmons, Justice of the Supreme Court of the Falkland Islands
11. Lagos State House of Assembly
12. The Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja


Dr. Lilian Uche
National Publicity Secretary (NLS)