Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested a suspected fake lawyer, John Anoruo, over alleged possession of a forged seal of the Nigerian Bar Association.
According to a statement posted by the anti-graft agency on X on Tuesday, Anoruo, who operates a legal and educational consultancy in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, was arrested on Monday, April 20, 2026. “His case began after he submitted a petition dated September 22, 2025 to the EFCC… against the management of a company, Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited,” the Commission stated.
However, the agency disclosed that investigations uncovered irregularities in the documents submitted by the suspect. “Investigations revealed that both the petition and the subsequent Letter of Withdrawal dated March 5, 2026, bore a forged seal of the Nigerian Bar Association,” the EFCC said.
The Commission added that the suspect admitted to procuring the forged seal from an undisclosed source. “Anoruo confessed to having obtained the seal from an undisclosed business centre in Lagos,” it stated.
Further findings also raised questions about his legal credentials. The EFCC said the 55-year-old claimed to have obtained a law degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2018 through evening classes but did not attend the Nigerian Law School.
The anti-graft agency said the suspect would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations. “The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the statement added.
The arrest comes amid a broader crackdown on impersonation in the legal profession. In a separate incident, a suspected fake lawyer, Godwin Eguabor, was arrested while representing a client at a magistrate court in the Badagry area of Lagos. Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Badagry branch, Atule Elchors, said Elchors flagged Eguabor for lacking a Supreme Court enrollment number. “I stood up and told the court that the person who appeared before the magistrate is not a legal practitioner,” Elchors said. “We asked for his Supreme Court number, but he could not answer; he was just telling us stories,” he said. Eguabor was charged with impersonation and granted bail of N1 million.
The EFCC’s latest arrest underscores ongoing concerns over individuals forging NBA stamps and seals to defraud the public and engage in unlawful legal practice.
