EFCC warns lawyers against charging clients in dollars

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into two lawyers accused of charging their clients in foreign currencies. The anti-graft agency has also promised to target any legal practitioner caught engaging in the illegal and unethical practice of charging clients in foreign currencies, urging them to cease such behavior.

According to reports, the EFCC had previously cautioned various sectors of the Nigerian economy, particularly oil and gas and real estate, to halt the "dollarisation of the economy." Speaking at an interactive session, the EFCC expressed concern over the activities of lawyers engaging in this practice and assured that anyone found guilty would face prosecution.

Bawa Kaltungo, the acting Zonal Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, informed a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of two ongoing cases involving lawyers who allegedly charged their clients in dollars. Kaltungo emphasized that the use of foreign currencies for charging clients is unethical and illegal, as the Naira is the country's legal tender.

The EFCC has cautioned lawyers against attributing the high charges to the Commission and not to mislead clients by falsely claiming that the fees were mandated by the EFCC. Kaltungo also advised lawyers to refrain from using the EFCC's name to impose excessive fees on clients. In response, Moshood Abiola, who heads the NBA’s Lagos task force on illegal legal practices, praised the Commission for recently prosecuting a fake lawyer, deeming the process swift and reassuring.

Abiola urged stronger collaboration between the NBA and the EFCC to ensure that legal practitioners found guilty of criminal conduct face prosecution and are held accountable.