This article by Mayowa Owolabi, seeks to review the state of our Laws (statutory and case law) and the applicable rules of professional conduct as it relates to acceptance of briefs, and the obligation to ascertain that funds charged and received as professional fees by Lawyers in Nigeria, are not derived from unlawful activities, in comparison to global trends and what conforms with international best practice
Background
In a recent Judgement which was delivered by the Court of Appeal on the 14th of May, 2021in a case constituted as App No: CA/L/174/19-FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA v CHIEF MIKE OZEKHOME (SAN); the Court upheld the Ruling of the Federal High Court which held that an earlier exparte order of the Federal High Court which froze the account of the Respondent to the appeal was improperly procured, and was therefore, rightfully discharged.