EFCC Warns Lawyers Against Charging Clients In Foreign Currencies

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned Nigerian lawyers against charging clients in foreign currencies, describing the practice as illegal and unethical.

The Commission issued the warning in a post on its official X account on Monday, following a meeting between its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 and a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The warning was issued by the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, when he received the NBA Lagos Task Force on Illegal Practice of Law, led by its Head, Moshood Abiola.

Kaltungo expressed concern over illegal and unethical practices among some legal practitioners, particularly the charging of clients in foreign currencies.

“The EFCC has called on legal practitioners in the country to desist from the illegal and unethical practice of charging clients in foreign currencies,” the Commission said.

He urged lawyers to comply with applicable laws and professional standards, warning that the EFCC would not hesitate to prosecute practitioners found culpable.

The meeting also focused on addressing illegal practices within the legal profession and strengthening collaboration between the EFCC and the NBA task force.

The latest warning is not the first time the anti-graft agency has cautioned businesses and service providers against charging for domestic transactions in foreign currencies.

In 2024, the EFCC warned schools, supermarkets, hotels and other businesses against charging customers in dollars or other foreign currencies within Nigeria.

The warning, issued by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede in the commission’s monthly e-magazine, EFCC Alert, formed part of the agency’s campaign against the dollarisation of domestic transactions.

Olukoyede had warned that anyone found engaging in the practice could face prosecution, stressing that the dollarisation of the economy could constitute a criminal offence under Nigerian laws.

The Commission recently disclosed that it had released N661.32 billion and 492.37 million dollars to beneficiaries over 34 months following recoveries.

The figures were disclosed by Olukoyede on August 31, 2026, in a statement issued by the EFCC as part of an update on his stewardship.

According to the Commission, naira recoveries during the period reached N1.23 trillion.

Of the N661.32 billion released, about N325.35 billion went directly to individuals and corporate bodies, while N335.97 billion was released to various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the Nigeria Revenue Service, states’ Internal Revenue Services and other public institutions, companies and individuals.