EFCC Probes Lawyers Charging Clients In Foreign Currencies

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced its investigations into the activities of two lawyers who were alleged to have charged their clients in foreign currencies when their services were sought.

The anti-graft agency also vowed to clamp down on any legal practitioner caught in the illegal and unethical practice of charging clients in foreign currencies, warning them to desist from the act.

Daily Trust reports that the EFCC had earlier warned Nigerians in different sectors, particularly in the oil and gas, real estate, among other critical sectors to stop what it described “dollarisation of the economy.”

Speaking during an interactive session, the EFCC expressed concerns over the activities of lawyers who engage in the practice, stressing that the Commission would not hesitate to prosecute anyone found culpable.

The acting Zonal Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Bawa Kaltungo, stated this when he received a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on a courtesy visit.

Kaltungo, an Assistant Commander in the agency, disclosed that the Directorate is currently handling two cases involving lawyers who allegedly charged their clients in foreign currencies.

Kaltungo, in a statement issued by the spokesman of the agency, Dele Oyewale, said, “We are also worried about the activities of lawyers who are involved in illegal and unethical practices. We have two cases of lawyers who were found to have charged fees in dollars. This is unethical and illegal, as the Naira is the country’s legal tender.

“We usually don’t want to have issues with members of the NBA. However, some lawyers are pushing us. Any lawyer we find culpable of charging clients in foreign currencies will be prosecuted,” he said.

The acting Zonal Director also cautioned lawyers against invoking the name of the EFCC to impose excessive charges on clients.

He said although lawyers had the right to determine their professional fees, they should not misrepresent the Commission or falsely claim that the fees demanded from clients were required by the EFCC.

“Also, lawyers should stop name-dropping the EFCC to overcharge their clients.

“They have the right to charge their clients as much as they like, but they shouldn’t drag the EFCC into it. They should desist from all these unethical practices,” he said.

Earlier, Moshood Abiola, who led the NBA’s Lagos task force on illegal practice of law, commended the Commission for its recent prosecution and conviction of a fake lawyer, describing the process as “swift and reassuring”.

He said the NBA Task Force had several cases involving lawyers allegedly engaged in malpractice, hence the need for stronger collaboration with the EFCC to ensure that legal practitioners found culpable of criminal conduct were prosecuted.

He said, “We appreciate the EFCC for the recent prosecution of a fake lawyer. It was swift, and we are glad that the EFCC was able to get the court to convict him.

“However, recently, we have a case involving a lawyer who has been engaging in malpractice. We have several cases like that, and we would like to strengthen our collaboration with the EFCC so that these individuals can be prosecuted and made to face the law.”