EFCC Warns Lawyers Against Charging Clients in Foreign Currencies

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has called on legal practitioners across the country to desist from the illegal and unethical practice of charging clients in foreign currencies.
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The call was made on Friday, September 11, 2026, in Lagos by the Acting Zonal Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Ikoyi, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, when he received a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA’s Lagos Task Force on Illegal Practice of Law, led by its Head, Moshood Abiola, on a courtesy visit to his office.

Speaking during the interactive session, Kaltungo expressed concern over the activities of lawyers who engage in illegal and unethical practices, stressing that the Commission would not hesitate to prosecute anyone found culpable.

According to him, the Directorate is currently handling two cases involving lawyers who allegedly charged their clients in foreign currencies.

He said: “We are also worried about the activities of lawyers who are involved in illegal and unethical practices.

“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 Acting Zonal Director also cautioned lawyers against invoking the name of the EFCC to impose excessive charges on clients.

He said although lawyers had the right to determine their professional fees, they should not misrepresent the Commission or falsely claim that the fees demanded from clients were required by the EFCC.

“Also, 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. They should desist from all these unethical practices,” he said.

Earlier, Abiola commended the Commission for its recent prosecution and conviction of a fake lawyer, describing the process as “swift and reassuring.”

He said the NBA Task Force had several cases involving lawyers allegedly engaged in malpractice, hence the need for stronger collaboration with the EFCC to ensure that legal practitioners found culpable of criminal conduct were prosecuted.

He said: “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.

“However, recently, we have a case involving a lawyer who has been engaging in malpractice. 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.”

Reacting to one of Abiola’s remarks, ACE I Orhieoghene Adewunmi of the Department of Legal and Prosecution, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, urged the NBA to ensure that appropriate publications were made concerning lawyers found culpable of unethical practices.

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

In the same vein, ACE II Henry Anasoh, also of the Department of Legal and Prosecution, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, raised concerns over practices by some legal practitioners who assist suspects in obstructing investigations or frustrating the administration of justice.

He said there had been instances of lawyers helping clients to forge documents for bail purposes, including cases where purported medical records were presented in support of bail applications.

EFCC

Anasoh also expressed concern over cases in which lawyers approach 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, therefore, urged the NBA to assist the EFCC in its efforts to rid the legal profession of “unscrupulous practitioners”, stressing that the conduct of a few lawyers should not undermine the integrity of the profession.
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Gastech 2026, NNPC Reels Out Strategies to Transform Nigeria into Global Gas Hub

NNPC Ltd.’s Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, today headlined the Opening Day of the ongoing 2026 Gas Technology & Exhibition Conference (GASTECH), taking place in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Ogunleye, who spoke on a panel themed “The New LNG Order: Leadership Strategies for Energy Security and Growth”, said that as geopolitics, conflict and other factors continue to affect global energy supply and demand, Nigeria is leveraging its over 215 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of proven reserves to power domestic industrialisation and expand export reach.

Ogunleye said that NNPC Ltd. has already activated multiple pathways aimed at transforming Nigeria into a global gas hub, adding that the Company is focused on reinforcing coordination, anchored on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021), Decade of Gas Framework and the Gas Master Plan (GMP), with the near-term target to ramp up national production of gas to 10 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) by 2027 and 12 Bcf/d by 2030.

NNPC

GASTECH is the world’s largest exhibition and conference focused on natural gas, LNG, hydrogen and low-carbon solutions. Now in its 54th edition, the conference brings together about 50,000 participants from over 150 countries, including energy experts, CEOs, policymakers, investors and technology leaders, to discuss the future of energy security, LNG supply, infrastructure investment and decarbonisation.
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SCUML, REDAN Deepen Collaboration on Anti -Money Laundering Compliance

The Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), and the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) have expressed commitment to ensure a full compliance with the Anti Money Laundering/Counter Finance on Terrorism/Counter Proliferation Financing, (AML/CFT/CPF) laws within the Nigeria’s real estate sector.
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They made the resolve during a stakeholders’ engagement held on Thursday, September 10, 2026

The engagement focused on Mutual Evaluation readiness, risk-based supervision, beneficial ownership transparency, customer due diligence, internal controls and stronger collaboration between SCUML and the real estate sector.

Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE 1 Ibinabo Amachree, speaking on behalf of SCUML highlighted the strategic role of real estate operators in protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system, particularly given the sector’s vulnerability to money laundering and other financial crime risks.

Amachree encouraged REDAN members to move beyond registration to ensure that compliance is embedded in their day-to-day operations. He mentioned the areas to include: understanding institutional risks, knowing customers and beneficial owners, identifying politically exposed persons, conducting appropriate sanctions screening, maintaining effective internal controls and meeting applicable reporting obligations

He, therefore, reaffirmed readiness to working closely with REDAN and other stakeholders to improve compliance, build capacity and promote a stronger culture of accountability across the real estate sector

“The message is clear: effective compliance is not just about meeting regulatory requirements; it is about protecting businesses, strengthening the real estate sector and safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system”, she said.

SCUML, REDAN

In his remarks, the Chairman of REDAN, Lagos state, Mr Tony Kolawole pledged readiness to partner with SCUML in ensuring compliance with AML/CFT/CPF in the real estate sector to uphold financial integrity.

The engagement also provided an opportunity for REDAN members to share practical regulatory and operational challenges affecting the sector, reinforcing the importance of continuous dialogue between regulators and industry stakeholders.
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