John Nwawuto Anoruo convicted for impersonating lawyer in Lagos

A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has convicted 55-year-old John Nwawuto Anoruo for impersonating a legal practitioner and possessing a forged Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seal. Anoruo, who operated a legal and educational consultancy in Ikorodu, pleaded guilty to two counts of impersonation and the use of a counterfeit seal.

Investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) revealed that Anoruo used the forged seal, which bore another lawyer’s Supreme Court enrolment number, on petitions submitted to the EFCC. While Anoruo obtained a law degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 2018, he admitted he never attended the Nigerian Law School or was called to the Nigerian Bar.

Justice A. M. Lawal sentenced Anoruo to a total fine of N270,000. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the forged seal and legal attire to the Federal Government through the EFCC.