EFCC Warns Lawyers Against Charging Clients in Dollars, Other Foreign Currencies

EFCC Warns Lawyers Against Charging Clients in Dollars, Other Foreign Currencies

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned legal practitioners across the country 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, gave 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, paid a courtesy visit to the EFCC’s Lagos office.

Speaking during the interactive session, Kaltungo expressed concern over the involvement of some legal practitioners in practices capable of undermining professional ethics and the law.

He disclosed that the Directorate was currently handling two cases involving lawyers who allegedly charged clients in foreign currencies.

“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.

Kaltungo warned that the Commission would prosecute any lawyer found culpable, while stressing that the EFCC would continue to maintain a cordial relationship with the NBA.

He also cautioned lawyers against using the name of the EFCC to impose excessive or unjustified charges on clients.

According to him, while lawyers have the right to determine their professional fees, they must not falsely represent that charges demanded from clients were imposed or required by the EFCC.

“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, 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 malpractice and called for stronger collaboration with the EFCC to ensure that legal practitioners found to have engaged in criminal conduct were brought to justice.

“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,” Abiola said.

Also speaking, ACE I Orhieoghene Adewunmi of the Department of Legal and Prosecution, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, urged the NBA to ensure that appropriate public notices were issued concerning lawyers found culpable of unethical conduct.

She said such publicity would help members of the public identify practitioners sanctioned for professional misconduct and avoid engaging their services.

Similarly, ACE II Henry Anasoh of the same department raised concerns over alleged actions by some lawyers that could obstruct investigations or frustrate the administration of justice.

He cited instances where lawyers allegedly assisted suspects in presenting forged documents for bail applications, including purported medical records.

Anasoh also expressed concern over cases in which lawyers seek court orders 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 misconduct of a few individuals should not be allowed to damage the reputation and integrity of the legal profession.

EFCC Warns Lawyers Against Charging Clients in Dollars, Other Foreign Currencies