The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Justice, has paid approximately N1.1bn as professional fees to prominent Nigerian lawyers, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and 23 other law firms over a period of three years.

This revelation emerged from an analysis of data provided by GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal Government’s expenditure.

The concept of professional services in legal practice encompasses various activities performed by lawyers within the scope of an attorney-client relationship. These include offering legal advice, drafting legal documents, and representing clients in legal matters.

Such services may also extend to transactional tasks like identifying potential legal risks in real estate or other business dealings, as well as negotiation, mediation, regulatory compliance, advocacy, lobbying, and risk management.

In July 2024, Babalola, Olanipekun and Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, collectively received N482.7m from the Federal Ministry of Justice.

A breakdown of the payments shows that Babalola was paid N372.9m on July 23 for representing the Federal Government in a court case registered FHC/ABJ/SC/8962/2023.

The other two senior lawyers, Olanipekun and Izinyon, were paid N103.6m and N6.2m, respectively, for providing similar services at different times. Olanipekun’s payment was made on July 26, while Izinyon received his fee three days later.

Further analysis of the Ministry of Justice’s records reveals that in 2022, no fewer than 17 lawyers received a cumulative sum of N359.7m as professional fees, while four lawyers were paid a total of N319.3m in 2021.

Among those who received payments in 2022 were Savannah Law Chambers, which was paid N17.4m; Lex Habitae, which received N21.8m; Rashida Mohammed & Co in Sokoto, which got N17.4m; and Abdullahi Haruna & Co, which also received N17.4m.

LDS Legal was paid N70.9m, while King’s Chambers and Iwuanyanwu & Co each received N15.7m. Sulaiman Salihu & Co was paid N31.4m in two tranches.

Other firms that benefited include Justice Solicitors & Attorneys, which was paid N15.7m; Pelican Legal, which received N15.7m; and Aderemi Olatubora & Co, which was paid N17.4m. Gboyega Oyewole of Lords and Temple Attorneys was paid N5.4m, while Savannah Law Chambers received an additional N29m.

Hanafi Mumini Ishola of Hanafi & Associates received N20.7m, Law Forte was paid N22.3m in two tranches, and Madyan Legal Consult received N24.8m in two tranches.

The 2021 payments included N174m to Mr. Chikwendu Madumere, N21.8m to LDS Legal, N21.8m to Olowolafe & Co, and N100.5m to Sulaiman Salihu & Co, disbursed in two tranches.

As part of their payments, Chief Afe Babalola paid a 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax amounting to N31m to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, while Wole Olanipekun paid N8.6m in VAT.

Both lawyers also paid a 10 per cent withholding tax of N41.4m and N11.5m, respectively, to the Ministry of Justice. (Saturday PUNCH)