The Ministry of Justice has claimed that N258 million was paid to 860 lawyers in the Ministry as robing allowance at N300,000 for each lawyer annually.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Ministry of Justice, Abubakar Malami, made this known in Abuja on Friday.
Malami spoke when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights and Legal Matters during the budget defence of the Ministry.
Malami gave details of allowance for the lawyers in the Ministry when Senator Emmanuel Orker-Jev raised concern about personnel cost in the Ministry, asking for the total number of lawyers in the Ministry.
The Minister explained that the total number of lawyers in the Ministry was about 860 and entitled to N300,000 each as robbing allowance.
“Eight hundred and sixty lawyers are entitled to N300,000 annually as robbing allowance,” the Minister said.
Senator Orker-Jev further asked Malami how often the Ministry pays robbing allowance.
The Minister responded that it is annual payment and a tradition.
The Senator, who was visibly amazed, said: “I used a robe for more than 10 years.”
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, interjected, explaining that the money was paid to make the lawyers presentable in court.
Bamidele said: “It is to make sure that our lawyers are well presented in court.”
The Ministry proposed N11.8 billion as 2022 budget.
The Personnel Cost – N3.9 billion; Overhead Cost (exclusive of Legal Services) – N2.4 billion; Legal Services – N2 billion; and Capital budget – N3.5 billion.
