The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, has called on legal practitioners and members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to join forces with law enforcement agencies in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
In a statement released by ICPC’s spokesperson, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, Prof. Owasanoye made the appeal during the NBA’s Annual General Conference at the Velodrome of the National Stadium in Abuja.
Prof. Owasanoye, who participated in a panel discussion on ethics and professional conduct among lawyers, commended NBA President Yakubu Maikyau and his leadership for initiating a dialogue on significant issues.
The session primarily focused on the new NBA rules and guidelines on Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing and the crucial role of the legal profession in combating these vices.
The ICPC boss stressed the importance of addressing ethical conduct among legal practitioners due to perceived lack of collaboration between lawyers and anti-corruption agencies. Referring to Rule 74(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC), he emphasized the need for lawyers to report suspicious activities related to money laundering and other relevant offenses.
Using the adage “If you see something, say something,” Prof. Owasanoye underscored that legal practitioners could no longer ignore the source of their clients’ wealth and the implications for their legal fees.
He further urged lawyers to display caution and concern when dealing with public officials and politically exposed persons, emphasizing that public interest should always take precedence over personal gain.
Prof. Owasanoye also drew attention to Rule 60 of the RPC, empowering lawyers to freeze the assets of individuals on the United Nations (UN) watchlist. He highlighted the existence of a similar watchlist in Nigeria and stressed that lawyers have an obligation to report their clients to the NBA anti-corruption unit, which is responsible for forwarding such information to law enforcement agencies.
Impelling the NBA leadership to employ an internal risk assessment policy as a guideline to determine ethical conduct, he cautioned against bureaucratic complications, emphasizing the importance of avoiding complicity when law enforcement agencies take action against a client.
In closing, he advised NBA members to refrain from shielding suspicious clients and instead work with law enforcement agencies through their disciplinary committee to pursue justice.
“It is time to turn words into action by implementing practical measures,” he concluded.
