The (EFCC) Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has come under heavy fire from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for publicly claiming that attorneys aid corrupt activities and illegal financial flows. No significant financial fraud could be committed without the assistance of attorneys, Olukoyede said in a speech at the 6th Annual Criminal Law Review Conference in Abuja. Using particular instances such as the P&ID scam and the Mambilla Power Project to support his claims, he further asserted that certain lawyers were involved in facilitating fraudulent foreign investments. These statements were seen as a broad criticism of the legal profession.
The NBA, under the leadership of Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, its president, responded to Olukoyede’s claims by denouncing them as unfounded and detrimental to the standing of the legal profession. The EFCC Chairman came under heavy fire from Osigwe for making broad assertions without offering any supporting data. He claimed that most attorneys, who put up great effort to preserve justice and the integrity of the court system, were unfairly targeted by Olukoyede’s charges.
While there may be a few unethical people in every industry, Osigwe contends that this should not be exploited to damage the reputation of all members. He suggested that the legal profession shouldn’t be publicly maligned in the absence of unambiguous and documented proof, and he urged the EFCC Chairman to present hard evidence of lawyers’ involvement in money laundering or related offenses.
Osigwe further underlined that the NBA would take legal action to defend the reputation and dignity of Nigerian attorneys if Olukoyede persisted in making such claims without supporting evidence. He emphasized that attorneys are crucial to upholding the rule of law and guaranteeing the fairness of legal proceedings.
The NBA President stated unequivocally that although the organization recognizes the necessity of keeping professionals from committing crimes, it was improper for a senior government official to make generalizations about a whole profession based on baseless allegations.
Furthermore, Osigwe urged anyone who has proof of attorneys engaging in illegal activities like money laundering to notify the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), which is the regulatory authority in charge of penalizing attorneys. He maintained that this was the appropriate way to handle such issues rather than making public charges that would compromise the credibility of the legal profession.
The 2024 NBA Annual General Conference Planning Committee Chairman, Dr. Emeka Obegolu, SAN, presented the theme for the future NBA conference, “Stand Out, Stand Tall,” during the ceremony.
In order to achieve innovation and leadership in the legal industry, this topic exhorts legal professionals to set themselves apart via excellence and moral behavior. In an era where moral concessions are all too easy, Obegolu advised attorneys to maintain the greatest standards of professionalism and to never waver in their dedication to justice. He emphasized how crucial it is for attorneys to uphold their moral principles and fend off influences that could encourage unethical behavior.
In an effort to demonstrate its dedication to advancing justice and human rights outside of the courtroom, the NBA also started a 16-day activism campaign against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). NBA members will tour jails and detention facilities nationwide as part of the campaign, promoting the release of individuals who have been unlawfully jailed and bringing attention to the need for more robust safeguards against sexual and gender-based violence. The NBA’s overarching goal of maintaining the honor and integrity of the legal profession while promoting justice and equality in society is emphasized by this campaign.
Despite these obstacles, the NBA is unwavering in its resolve to protect its members’ integrity and make sure the legal community isn’t falsely accused of being engaged in criminal activity. While maintaining the high standards of ethics and integrity that the majority of attorneys aim to uphold, the association is concentrated on dealing with the minority who could damage the profession’s name.
ALSO READ:
