A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced John Nwawuto Anoruo for impersonating a legal practitioner and possessing a forged Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seal. Justice A.M. Lawal delivered the judgment after finding the defendant guilty of falsely presenting himself as a lawyer while using counterfeit professional credentials in the course of his activities.

Anoruo, who operated a legal and educational consultancy in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on April 20, 2026, following an investigation into documents submitted on behalf of clients. Investigators discovered that both a petition and a subsequent withdrawal letter filed with the commission carried forged NBA seals. During the trial, evidence also showed that he charged a client ₦7.5 million for legal services but paid a qualified lawyer ₦1.5 million to handle the matter on his behalf.

The court heard that Anoruo admitted he was not a qualified legal practitioner and had obtained the counterfeit NBA seal from a business centre. The prosecution argued that his actions undermined the integrity of the legal profession and exposed unsuspecting members of the public to fraud. The court subsequently found him guilty of impersonation and possession of forged professional materials.

The conviction highlights ongoing efforts by the EFCC and the judiciary to combat professional impersonation and document forgery. Authorities urged members of the public to verify the credentials of legal practitioners before engaging their services, warning that offenders who misrepresent themselves as lawyers will continue to face prosecution under the law.