The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Justice, has paid about N1.1 billion in professional fees to renowned lawyers, including Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and 23 other legal practitioners and firms within three years.
According to a report by Saturday PUNCH, the information comes from an analysis conducted by GovSpend, a civic tech platform that monitors government expenditure.
Professional legal services typically include offering advice, drafting legal documents, and representing clients in legal cases. Lawyers may also provide assistance with transactional matters, compliance, negotiation, advocacy, lobbying, and risk management.
In July 2024, Babalola, Olanipekun, and Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, collectively received N482.7 million from the Ministry of Justice. Records show that Babalola was paid N372.9 million on July 23 for representing the Federal Government in case FHC/ABJ/SC/8962/2023. Olanipekun and Izinyon received N103.6 million and N6.2 million, respectively, on July 26 and July 29.
The records further reveal that 17 lawyers were paid a combined sum of N359.7 million in 2022, while four lawyers received N319.3 million in 2021.
In 2022, Savannah Law Chambers received N17.4 million; Lex Habitae, N21.8 million; Rashida Mohammed & Co, N17.4 million; and Abdullahi Haruna & Co, N17.4 million. LDS Legal received N70.9 million, and King’s Chambers and Iwuanyanwu & Co each received N15.7 million. Sulaiman Salihu & Co was paid N31.4 million in two installments.
Other firms, such as Justice Solicitors & Attorneys, Pelican Legal, and Aderemi Olatubora & Co, were each paid N15.7 million, while Savannah Law Chambers received an additional N29 million. Lords and Temple Attorneys was paid N5.4 million, while Hanafi & Associates received N20.7 million.
In 2021, disbursements included N174 million to Mr. Chikwendu Madumere, N21.8 million to LDS Legal, N21.8 million to Olowolafe & Co, and N100.5 million to Sulaiman Salihu & Co in two installments.
As part of the payments, Chief Afe Babalola remitted 7.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) amounting to N31 million, while Wole Olanipekun paid N8.6 million in VAT. Additionally, both lawyers paid 10% withholding tax of N41.4 million and N11.5 million, respectively, to the Ministry of Justice