Lagos man jailed for impersonating lawyer and forging NBA seal
A Lagos State High Court has convicted John Nwawuto Anoruo for impersonating a lawyer and using a forged Nigerian Bar Association seal. The conviction follows efforts by the NBA and law enforcement to address the problem of fake lawyers. According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Anoruo operated a consultancy and submitted legal documents with a counterfeit NBA seal. Investigations revealed he was not qualified to practice law in Nigeria.
What happened
- John Nwawuto Anoruo was convicted for impersonating a legal practitioner and using a forged NBA seal.
- He operated a legal and educational consultancy in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.
- The EFCC arrested him on April 20, 2026, after he submitted a petition and withdrawal letter with a fake NBA seal.
- Investigations showed he was not called to the Nigerian Bar or enrolled as a legal practitioner.
- The NBA introduced security seals in 2015 to curb the activities of fake lawyers and has warned the public against patronising unqualified persons.
