The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that more than 100 senior lawyers are currently being prosecuted for corruption-related offences. Olukoyede made the disclosure while speaking at the second annual lecture of the Body of Benchers held in Abuja. The EFCC boss expressed concern about the increasing involvement of legal practitioners in financial crimes, noting that the anti-graft agency had received numerous petitions against members of the legal profession. “We have had calls to investigate quite a number of senior members of the Bar,” he said. According to him, investigations by the commission uncovered offences ranging from diversion of clients’ funds to 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. It has become very necessary for us to work together,” Olukoyede added. Meanwhile, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee presented its 2025 report during the event, outlining sanctions imposed on lawyers found guilty of professional misconduct. Presenting the report, Onyechi Ikpeazu disclosed that 17 legal practitioners were punished for professional misconduct. According to him, the sanctions ranged from striking off to suspension. Three lawyers had their names struck off the roll of legal practitioners, while others received varying suspension terms, including five years, four years, three years and two years. One lawyer was issued a warning. Chairman of the Body of Benchers and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kayode Ariwoola, said the gathering was meant to reflect on the state of the legal profession and reinforce ethical standards. “Our gathering today is not a jamboree. It is a time of reflection on our values, ethics and ethos as well as our resilience and faith in the institution,” Ariwoola stated. Also speaking, the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, stressed the importance of regulation in maintaining the integrity of the legal profession. She noted that the responsibilities of the Body of Benchers go beyond admitting lawyers into the profession, extending to maintaining discipline and preserving public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.