The Nigerian Bar Association Lagos Branch has raised concerns over the increasing incidence of illegal and unethical legal practice in the state, warning that offenders—particularly within the real estate sector—risk prosecution.
Speaking at a press conference held at the NBA Lagos Secretariat, Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, the Chairman of the Taskforce on Illegal Practice of Law, Moshood Abiola, described the trend as disturbing and a serious threat to the integrity of the legal profession.
According to reports by Newswire Law & Events Magazine, the taskforce was established to curb the rise of unqualified individuals engaging in legal services and to enforce compliance with professional standards across the state.
Abiola noted that the taskforce had, in recent months, received multiple complaints involving individuals and corporate entities engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.
He identified the real estate sector as a major culprit, accusing some developers of collecting legal fees from property buyers for documentation without engaging qualified lawyers.
According to him, such actions violate provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act, which expressly prohibit non-lawyers from preparing legal instruments relating to property transactions for a fee.
He added that the practice also runs afoul of the Legal Practitioners (Remuneration for Legal Documentation and Other Land Matters) Order, 2023, as well as the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners.
“A particularly troubling trend is within the real estate sector, where developers routinely collect legal fees for title documentation without involving qualified practitioners. This is unlawful and unacceptable,” Abiola said.
He stressed that the era of impunity was ending, warning that the taskforce would take necessary legal steps to enforce compliance and protect the public from quackery.
“We are committed to safeguarding the integrity of the legal profession and ensuring strict adherence to the law. Stakeholders must comply,” he added.
In her remarks, Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch, Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade, underscored that illegal legal practice is a criminal offence punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment.
She issued a stern warning to real estate developers and other offenders to desist, emphasizing that ignorance of the law would not be accepted as a defence.
Akingbade also highlighted tenancy agreements as one of the most common areas of abuse, alleging that some landlords impersonate lawyers in dealing with prospective tenants.
“Legal fees are meant to be collected by lawyers. If you are not a lawyer, do not carry out duties reserved for legal practitioners,” she said.
She further decried the activities of individuals who loiter around court premises offering to process affidavits for unsuspecting members of the public, describing the trend as illegal.
The NBA, she said, would intensify enforcement and ensure that offenders are prosecuted, while also cautioning lawyers to use their professional seals appropriately.
Also present at the press conference are; Jane Asim-Ita, the vice chairman of the Taskforce committee of NBA Lagos branch, and Ifeoma Enyinnaya, a member of the committee.
The association’s warning comes amid increasing concerns over consumer protection and professional standards in Nigeria’s legal and real estate sectors, with the NBA vowing to clamp down on all forms of unauthorized legal practice in Lagos.
