The European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) are working with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to help remove Nigeria from the Global Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) high-risk list for money laundering, terrorism financing, and small arms proliferation.
Currently, Nigeria faces classification as a high-risk area due to concerns about financial crimes. At a recent two-day workshop on the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, Dr. Emmanuel Uche, the Anti-Corruption Programme Manager at RoLAC, outlined the importance of involving Nigerian lawyers in efforts to remove the country from the FATF’s grey list. This would help rebuild international trust in Nigeria’s financial systems and improve global financial relationships.
Dr. Uche emphasized that the grey list designation negatively affects Nigeria’s ability to engage globally, highlighting issues such as debit card rejections when trying to transact on international websites.
Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN, President of the NBA, called on legal professionals to adhere to the highest ethical standards. He acknowledged that while 100% compliance may not always be achievable, the NBA remains committed to maintaining public trust and ensuring that those who violate the Rules of Professional Conduct are held accountable.
RoLAC’s Programme Head, Mr. Danladi Plang, stressed the importance of transparency and accountability within the legal profession. He noted that lawyers play a pivotal role in safeguarding democracy and ensuring the rule of law. However, unethical practices like fraud and manipulation of legal loopholes are undermining the integrity of the profession.
In response to concerns about legal misconduct, the Attorney General of the Federation initiated a review of the Rules of Professional Conduct to address these issues and ensure that legal professionals in Nigeria maintain the highest ethical standards.
The two-day workshop, which saw participation from representatives across all 130 NBA branches, is part of a larger effort to train legal leaders and young lawyers on the revised ethical rules. These trained leaders will go on to conduct follow-up training in their respective regions, aiming to improve compliance, transparency, and accountability across the legal sector.
This initiative is a key step in strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s legal profession, ultimately fostering public confidence in the country’s judicial system.
