The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that no fewer than 100 senior lawyers are currently facing prosecution over corruption-related offences.
According to a report by The Nation newspaper, Olukoyede made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja during the second annual lecture organised by the Body of Benchers, an event attended by prominent members of Nigeria’s legal community.
The EFCC chairman expressed concern over the growing involvement of legal practitioners in financial crimes, noting that the anti-graft agency has received several petitions against members of the Bar.
He said investigations conducted by the commission uncovered various offences, including the diversion of clients’ funds and assistance in money laundering.
“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,” he said.
Olukoyede, who is also a lawyer, stressed the importance of stronger collaboration between the EFCC and the legal profession in tackling the problem.
At the same event, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) presented its 2025 report on disciplinary actions taken against erring lawyers.
While presenting the report, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) disclosed that 17 legal practitioners were sanctioned after being found guilty of professional misconduct.