The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has threatened to take legal action against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, over claims that lawyers aid the illicit financial flows to offshore accounts.
Olukoyede had earlier alleged that it was impossible for major financial fraud to occur without lawyers’ involvement.
He stated that lawyers prioritize personal gain over national interest, particularly in cases like the P&ID scam and the Mambilla Power Project.
Reacting, the NBA, represented by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, (SAN) argued that the EFCC boss lacked sufficient evidence to back his claim.
He berated Olukoyede for painting the legal profession in a bad light.
Osigwe challenged the EFCC chairman to provide evidence or forever hold his peace.
He said, “We challenge the EFCC Chairman to come up with empirical evidence and if he can not, he should never make such a statement again.
“Unfortunately, he is one of us. He is a lawyer. We had earlier drawn his attention to the fact that many men and women who make the investigation and prosecution of cases by the EFCC worthwhile are lawyers.
“Is he then suggesting that his lawyers are aiding money laundering and financing of terrorism?
“It is common in Nigeria for people to make hasty generalizations, yet, very few lawyers, to my knowledge, have been prosecuted by the EFCC for aiding money laundering.
“If for example, he has evidence of many lawyers who have aided money laundering and who are standing trial or who may have been convicted or who had pleaded guilty, then, one could say that he has evidence.
“It is unfortunate that such a statement was made and I am sure that with the benefit of hindsight, he would not have made the statement.
“In the absence of evidence, such a statement should never be made. We are proud members of the legal profession and we must draw the line in performing our professional duties and aiding the commission of crime. We do not do that.
“There may be a few bad eggs but that does not represent the picture or the majority of lawyers who toil to build up a reputation of integrity and professionalism.
“The EFCC Chairman should not for whatever reason soil that image by portraying all of us as aiders of money laundering.
“If that happens again, we will take legal action to protect the image of the legal profession.”
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