The Nigerian government has spent N1.1 billion in professional fees on some of the country’s most prominent lawyers over three years, as disclosed by GovSpend, a platform monitoring government spending. This expenditure has raised concerns regarding transparency and fiscal accountability.
Among the 25 beneficiaries are renowned Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) such as Chief Afe Babalola and Wole Olanipekun, who provided services ranging from legal advice and document preparation to court representation. Additionally, their expertise extended to mediation, compliance, risk management, and transactional legalities.
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Recent Payouts (July 2024):
- Chief Afe Babalola received N372.9 million for a federal court case (FHC/ABJ/SC/8962/2023).
- Wole Olanipekun was paid N103.6 million.
- Dr. Alex Izinyon earned N6.2 million for other legal services.
These payments were disbursed on July 23 (Babalola), July 26 (Olanipekun), and July 29 (Izinyon).
Previous Expenditures:
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- In 2022, 17 lawyers received a cumulative N359.7 million, with payments ranging from N15.7 million to N70.9 million.
- In 2021, four lawyers shared N319.3 million, including notable payouts like N174 million to Chikwendu Madumere and N100.5 million to Sulaiman Salihu & Co.
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Tax Compliance:
Both Afe Babalola and Wole Olanipekun fulfilled tax obligations:
- Babalola paid N31 million in VAT and N41.4 million in withholding tax.
- Olanipekun paid N8.6 million in VAT and N11.5 million in withholding tax.
While the payments reflect the high value placed on their services, the government’s adherence to spending guidelines, such as the Legal Practitioners Remuneration Order, 2023, remains under scrutiny.
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