EFCC warns Nigerian lawyers against charging clients in foreign currencies

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a warning to Nigerian lawyers against charging clients in foreign currencies, deeming the practice illegal and unethical. This announcement came after a meeting between the EFCC's Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 and a delegation from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Monday, September 14, 2026.

The EFCC's Acting Zonal Director, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, delivered the warning during the meeting with the NBA Lagos Task Force on Illegal Practice of Law, led by its Head Moshood Abiola. Kaltungo emphasized the importance of compliance with laws and professional standards, asserting that the Commission would not hesitate to prosecute those found guilty of engaging in such practices.

The meeting also aimed to address illegal practices within the legal profession and enhance collaboration between the EFCC and the NBA task force. This warning echoes a previous statement made by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede in 2024, in which he cautioned various businesses, including schools, supermarkets, and hotels, against charging for goods and services in foreign currencies within Nigeria.

Olukoyede, in the EFCC's monthly e-magazine, EFCC Alert, stressed that anyone found guilty of dollarisation of domestic transactions could face prosecution, as dollarisation could be deemed a criminal offense under Nigerian laws. The EFCC's latest warning to lawyers underscores the agency's ongoing efforts to enforce its enforcement and recovery activities, releasing a total of N661.32 billion, with a significant portion directed towards individuals, corporate bodies, and various government entities.