EFCC Chair: Lawyers Aiding Politicians’ Financial Crimes Must Be Addressed

Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has raised concerns about senior lawyers accepting substantial fees from politicians, a practice he says undermines existing legal statutes. Speaking at the 6th annual criminal law review conference in Abuja on Monday, Olukoyede emphasized the need for the judiciary to address lawyers who demand “exorbitant legal fees” from public officials.

“If a lawyer does not question the source of millions paid by a sitting governor or public official for representation at an electoral tribunal, it should be clear that such sums, when legitimate, would pass through the financial system,” Olukoyede noted, as reported by NAN.

He highlighted that accepting significant payments in cash contravenes money laundering laws and serves as a means for tax evasion. “Collecting millions in professional fees from public officials in cash, as some senior lawyers do, is primarily aimed at bypassing tax obligations,” he said.

Olukoyede underscored the importance of ethical leadership within the legal profession, stressing that senior lawyers should model ethical behavior to the younger generation.

Additionally, the EFCC chairman accused some lawyers of assisting in illegal transfers of funds to offshore accounts. While acknowledging past prosecutions and convictions of judges and senior lawyers, he reaffirmed his respect for the judiciary and the legal field.

“The governance, discipline, and ethical standards of legal practitioners are of utmost importance to me,” Olukoyede said. “The EFCC’s role is to prevent corruption from infiltrating our society and to hold offenders accountable when it does.”