NBA Threatens Legal Action Against EFCC Chairman Over Corruption Allegations Against Lawyers
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned it may take legal action against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, over remarks alleging that lawyers are complicit in facilitating financial crimes in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Sixth Annual Criminal Law Review Conference in Abuja, Olukoyede claimed that major financial frauds in the country often involve lawyers who prioritize personal gains over national interests. He cited cases such as the P&ID scam, the Mambilla Power Project, and the Sunrise transaction as examples of fraud schemes allegedly enabled by legal practitioners.
Reacting to the accusations, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, criticized Olukoyede’s statements, describing them as unfounded and damaging to the legal profession’s reputation.
“The EFCC Chairman must provide concrete evidence to substantiate his claims. In its absence, such baseless accusations should not be made,” Osigwe stated during the unveiling of the 2025 NBA Annual General Conference logo and theme in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He expressed disappointment that Olukoyede, a fellow lawyer, would generalize about the legal profession, which includes many individuals who contribute significantly to the EFCC’s own investigations and prosecutions.
Osigwe challenged Olukoyede to provide records of lawyers prosecuted, convicted, or standing trial for aiding money laundering and terrorism financing. “It is irresponsible to tarnish the image of an entire profession because of a few bad actors,” he said, adding that the NBA would not hesitate to take legal action if such statements are repeated.
He also urged anyone with evidence against specific lawyers to forward petitions to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), which is empowered to address unethical conduct within the legal profession.
Meanwhile, the NBA announced the theme for its 2025 Annual General Conference: “Stand Out, Stand Tall.”
Conference Planning Committee Chairman, Dr. Emeka Obegolu, SAN, said the theme underscores the need for legal professionals to uphold integrity and professionalism.
“Stand Out challenges us to embrace innovation and excellence in a rapidly evolving world, while Stand Tall reminds us to remain steadfast in our values and advocate for justice with courage and resilience,” Obegolu stated.
The NBA reiterated its commitment to promoting ethical legal practices and warned against attempts to undermine the profession’s integrity.
