By Obinna Uballa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that it is prosecuting no fewer than 100 senior lawyers for corruption-related offences, raising alarm over the growing involvement of legal practitioners in financial crimes.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, made the disclosure on Thursday during the second annual lecture of the Body of Benchers in Abuja, which drew top figures from Nigeria’s legal community.
“The EFCC has had calls to investigate several senior members of the Bar,” Olukoyede said, noting that the investigations uncovered offences including diversion of clients’ funds and aiding money laundering.
He added: “Before I came here, I checked our database and discovered that we have about 100 senior members of the Bar that we are prosecuting at the moment for those offences. It has become very necessary for us to work together to uphold the integrity of the profession.”
The event also featured the presentation of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) 2025 report. LPDC Chairman Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) disclosed that 17 legal practitioners were sanctioned for professional misconduct during the year.
“Three of the indicted practitioners had their names struck off the roll,” Ikpeazu said. “Three were suspended for five years, two were suspended for four years, five were suspended for three years, four were suspended for two years, while one received a warning.”
Chairman of the Body of Benchers and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kayode Ariwoola, emphasised that the lecture was intended to provide a platform for reflection on the values, ethics, and responsibilities of legal practitioners.
“Our gathering today is not a jamboree. It is a time of reflection on our values, ethics, and ethos, as well as our resilience and faith in the institution,” Ariwoola said.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, also addressed the audience, stressing the importance of regulatory oversight in maintaining public confidence in the legal system. She noted that the Body of Benchers’ responsibilities go beyond admitting lawyers into the profession to enforcing discipline and ensuring ethical conduct.
The Body of Benchers is Nigeria’s apex regulatory institution responsible for the admission and discipline of legal practitioners.
Participants at the lecture agreed that strengthening ethics, discipline, and professionalism within the Bar is critical to restoring trust in the legal system.
The EFCC’s revelation comes amid rising public concern over the perception of some lawyers as facilitators of corruption, underscoring the urgent need for rigorous ethical enforcement.
Analysts say Olukoyede’s disclosure, together with the LPDC’s report, signals a concerted effort by both enforcement and regulatory bodies to curb misconduct and ensure accountability within the legal profession.
“The legal profession plays a pivotal role in upholding justice in society,” Olukoyede said. “Any breach of ethical conduct, especially by senior lawyers, undermines public trust and the rule of law. This is why collaboration between regulatory bodies and law enforcement is essential.”
