Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned lawyers to stop charging clients in foreign currencies, describing the practice as illegal and unethical, and vowed to prosecute offenders.
Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, issued the warning on Friday during a meeting with a delegation from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Task Force on Illegal Practice of Law.
The commission is already handling two cases involving lawyers alleged to have charged fees in dollars.
“We are also worried about the activities of lawyers who are involved in illegal and unethical practices,” Kaltungo said.
“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 also cautioned lawyers against using the EFCC’s name to justify high fees.
“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 added.
NBA Task Force head Moshood Abiola welcomed closer cooperation with the EFCC, noting the commission’s recent swift prosecution of a fake lawyer.
“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,” Abiola said.
“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.”
