Wednesday, April 22, 2026 -Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ikoyi, have arrested a 55-year-old man, John Anoruo, over alleged impersonation as a legal practitioner and possession of a forged Nigerian Bar Association seal.
Anoruo, who operates a legal and educational consultancy in
the Ikorodu area of Lagos, was picked up on Monday, April 20, 2026, following
investigations triggered by documents he submitted to the EFCC in a dispute
involving Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited.
According to a post obtained from EFCC’s X account on
Tuesday, an EFCC investigator familiar with the case said the alarm was raised
after inconsistencies were discovered in official-looking documents submitted
by the suspect.
“Preliminary findings showed that both the petition and the
withdrawal letter he submitted carried a suspicious NBA seal. This prompted
further verification, which confirmed the seal was not authentic,” the
investigator said.
According to the EFCC, further investigation revealed that a
Letter of Withdrawal dated March 5, 2026, also bore the same questionable seal,
strengthening suspicions of document forgery.
During interrogation, Anoruo allegedly admitted that he
obtained the seal from an undisclosed business centre in Lagos.
“He confessed to getting the seal from a business centre,
which is part of what is now being investigated further,” another EFCC official
disclosed.
The suspect also claimed to have earned a law degree in 2018
from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka through evening programmes.
However, he admitted he did not attend the Nigerian Law
School, a mandatory requirement for anyone seeking to practice law in Nigeria.
Legal practitioners note that attendance at the Nigerian Law
School and subsequent call to the bar are essential steps before one can
legally represent clients as a lawyer in the country.
The EFCC confirmed that Anoruo will be charged to court upon
conclusion of investigations.
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