The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that about 100 senior lawyers are currently facing prosecution over alleged corruption-related offences.
Olukoyede made the revelation in Abuja while speaking at the second annual lecture organised by the Body of Benchers, an event attended by prominent members of the legal community.
The EFCC chairman expressed concern about what he described as a growing trend of legal practitioners becoming involved in financial crimes. According to him, the commission has received numerous petitions accusing members of the legal profession of various forms of misconduct.
He noted that many of the investigations initiated by the anti-graft agency stemmed from requests to probe senior members of the Bar. Olukoyede said the offences uncovered during these investigations range from the diversion of clients’ funds to assisting in money laundering activities.
“Before coming here, I checked our database and discovered that about 100 senior members of the Bar are currently being prosecuted for such offences,” he said, stressing the need for greater collaboration within the legal profession to address the issue.
At the event, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee also presented its 2025 report, outlining disciplinary measures taken against lawyers found guilty of professional misconduct.
Presenting the report, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Onyechi Ikpeazu, said a total of 17 lawyers were sanctioned after being found culpable of misconduct in the course of their professional duties.
According to him, the penalties imposed varied depending on the gravity of the offences. Three lawyers had their names struck off the roll of legal practitioners, effectively barring them from practising law. Another three were suspended for five years, while two received four-year suspensions. Five practitioners were suspended for three years, four others were suspended for two years, and one lawyer received a formal warning.
Chairman of the Body of Benchers and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kayode Ariwoola, said the annual lecture provided an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on the values and ethical foundations of the legal profession.
He emphasised that the gathering was not merely ceremonial but intended to encourage serious reflection on professional standards, ethics, and the enduring principles guiding the legal community.
In her remarks, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, highlighted the critical role of regulation in preserving the credibility of the legal profession. She noted that the responsibilities of the Body of Benchers go beyond the formal admission of lawyers into practice and extend to maintaining discipline within the profession and safeguarding public confidence in the justice system.
The Body of Benchers serves as the apex regulatory authority responsible for the admission and discipline of legal practitioners in Nigeria. Participants at the lecture emphasised the importance of strengthening ethical standards, discipline, and professionalism within the Bar as essential steps toward rebuilding public trust in the nation’s justice system.
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