The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned legal practitioners against charging clients in foreign currencies, describing the practice as illegal and unethical.
The Acting Zonal Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ikoyi, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, issued the warning on Friday, September 11, 2026, when he received a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Task Force on Illegal Practice of Law.
The delegation, led by the Head of the Task Force, Moshood Abiola, was at the EFCC office on a courtesy visit aimed at strengthening collaboration between both organisations.
Kaltungo expressed concern over the alleged involvement of some lawyers in illegal and unethical practices, warning that the Commission would prosecute practitioners found culpable.
He disclosed that the Directorate was currently handling two cases involving lawyers accused of charging clients in United States dollars.
“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,” he said.
According to him, although the EFCC would prefer to maintain a cordial relationship with members of the NBA, lawyers who violate the law would not be shielded from prosecution. “Any lawyer we find culpable of charging clients in foreign currencies will be prosecuted,” Kaltungo warned.
The EFCC official also cautioned lawyers against using the name of the Commission to impose excessive or unjustified charges on their clients.
He acknowledged the right of legal practitioners to determine their professional fees but warned them against falsely claiming that fees demanded from clients were imposed or required by the EFCC.
“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,” he said.
Earlier, Abiola commended the EFCC for the recent prosecution and conviction of a fake lawyer, describing the process as “swift and reassuring.”
He said the NBA Task Force was handling several cases involving alleged professional misconduct and malpractice by legal practitioners, stressing the need for closer collaboration with the EFCC to ensure that lawyers involved in criminal conduct were brought to justice.
“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.
He added that the Task Force had cases involving lawyers allegedly engaged in malpractice and wanted stronger cooperation with the anti-graft agency to ensure that offenders faced the law.
Also speaking, ACE I Orhieoghene Adewunmi of the Department of Legal and Prosecution, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, urged the NBA to publicise appropriate sanctions imposed on lawyers found culpable of professional misconduct.
She said such disclosures would enable members of the public to identify sanctioned practitioners and avoid engaging their services.
Similarly, ACE II Henry Anasoh of the Department of Legal and Prosecution raised concerns over alleged attempts by some lawyers to obstruct investigations and frustrate the administration of justice.
Anasoh cited instances in which lawyers allegedly assisted suspects in forging documents for bail applications, including purported medical records.
He also expressed concern over cases where lawyers approach the courts to restrain the EFCC from investigating or prosecuting their clients, including through fundamental rights enforcement suits arising from invitations issued by the Commission.
He urged the NBA to support the EFCC in its efforts to rid the legal profession of “unscrupulous practitioners,” stressing that the alleged misconduct of a few lawyers should not be allowed to damage the reputation and integrity of the wider legal profession.
