The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned lawyers against charging clients in dollars, pointing out that two cases involving practitioners accused of the practice are already before the commission.
Penpushing reports that the Acting Zonal Director in Lagos gave the warning when he received members of the Lagos Task Force on Illegal Practice of Law of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The warning was contained in a statement by the agency spokesperson Dele Oyewale adding that the Acting Zonal Director who is an Assistant Commander, stressed that lawyers found to have charged clients in foreign currencies could be prosecuted.
“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’, the statement said
Penpushing further reports that Kaltungo explained that lawyers were free to determine how much they charged for their services but should not involve the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in their dealings with clients.
The Assistant Commander noted that some lawyers had allegedly invoked the commission’s name while demanding high fees from clients, declaring that they should henceforth stop name-dropping of the commission to overcharge their clients
“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’, the statement emphaasised
Penpushing also reports that lawyers’ professional charges are regulated by the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration (for Business, Legal Service and Representation) Order 2023, which sets minimum fees for various legal services.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has equally urged its members to comply with the order when fixing their professional fees, however, the head of the task force, Moshood Abiola, stated that the association had several complaints against lawyers over alleged professional misconduct.
Penpushing reports that Abiola said the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wanted closer cooperation with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in cases where the alleged misconduct amounted to criminal offences.
The head of the task force cited the recent prosecution and conviction of a fake lawyer by the, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as an example of the kind of cooperation the NBA wanted.
“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’, the task force boss said.
Penpushing further reports that he pointed out that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had other cases involving lawyers accused of malpractice and wanted such cases properly investigated and prosecuted where necessary.
The Assistant Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC’s) Department of Legal and Prosecution Orhieoghene Adewunmi urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to publish the names of lawyers sanctioned for professional misconduct.
Penpushing also reports that Adewunmi explained that doing so would help members of the public know which practitioners had been disciplined, while, another official of the department, Henry Anasoh equally raised concerns about lawyers allegedly helping suspects frustrate Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigations.
The official stated that the commission had encountered cases where lawyers allegedly helped suspects produce forged documents, including purported medical records, for bail applications., and criticised attempts by some lawyers to use fundamental rights suits to stop the agency from investigating or prosecuting their clients.
Penpushing reports that he urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to help the commission deal with what he described as unscrupulous practitioners, stressing that the actions of a few lawyers should not affect the reputation of the profession.
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