The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned legal practitioners in the country to stop charging their clients in foreign currencies.
The EFCC disclosed this following reports it said were at its disposal indicating that some legal practitioners in the country are charging their clients dollars, pound sterling and other foreign currencies for their services.
The EFCC described billing clients in foreign currencies as an illegal and unethical practice that violates professional and financial standards.
The anti graft agency gave the warning on Friday, September 11, in Lagos through the Acting Zonal Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, when he received a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Task Force on Illegal Practice of Law, led by its Head, Moshood Abiola, who were on a courtesy visit to his office.
The EFCC expressed concern over the activities of lawyers who engage in what it described as illegal and unethical practices, stressing that the commission would not hesitate to prosecute anyone found culpable.
The EFCC’s warning comes as the commission continues to strengthen its oversight of designated non-financial businesses and professions, including law firms and independent legal practitioners, through its Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML).
SCUML is responsible for monitoring and supervising such professionals for compliance with Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws and regulations.
The meeting with the NBA task force formed part of efforts to address illegal practices within the legal profession and strengthen cooperation between the anti-graft agency and the association.
