The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cautioned Nigerian lawyers against charging their 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 after a meeting between its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 and a delegation from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The warning was given 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 raised concerns over illegal and unethical conduct among some legal practitioners, particularly the practice of billing 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 called on lawyers to comply with relevant laws and professional standards, warning that the EFCC would prosecute practitioners found violating the law.
The meeting also addressed illegal practices within the legal profession and explored ways to strengthen cooperation 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 using foreign currencies for domestic transactions in Nigeria.
In 2024, the EFCC warned schools, supermarkets, hotels and other businesses against charging customers in dollars or other foreign currencies within the country.
The warning, issued by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede through the commission’s monthly e-magazine, EFCC Alert, was part of efforts to tackle the dollarisation of domestic transactions.
Olukoyede had warned that individuals and businesses found engaging in the practice could be prosecuted, stressing that the dollarisation of the economy could amount to a criminal offence under Nigerian law.
The Commission recently announced that it had released N661.32 billion and $492.37 million to beneficiaries over a 34-month period 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, total naira recoveries during the period stood at N1.23 trillion.
Of the N661.32 billion released, approximately N325.35 billion was paid directly to individuals and corporate organisations, while N335.97 billion went to various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the Nigeria Revenue Service, states’ Internal Revenue Services and other public institutions, companies and individuals.
Source: EFCC
