EFCC prosecuting about 100 senior lawyers for corruption – Olukoyede

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that no fewer than 100 senior lawyers are currently being prosecuted for corruption-related offences.

According to a report by The Nation newspaper, Olukoyede made the disclosure in Abuja on Thursday during the second annual lecture organised by the Body of Benchers, an event attended by key figures in Nigeria’s legal profession.

The EFCC chairman expressed concern about the increasing involvement of legal practitioners in financial crimes, noting that the anti-graft agency has received numerous petitions against members of the Bar.

According to him, investigations by the commission uncovered various offences, including diversion of clients’ funds and aiding 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, himself a lawyer, emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between the EFCC and the legal profession to address the issue.

Also at the event, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) presented its 2025 report on disciplinary actions taken against erring lawyers.

Presenting the report, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) said 17 legal practitioners were sanctioned after being found guilty of professional misconduct.