Analysis Reveals N1.1bn Paid to Lawyers by Federal Government in Legal Fees

The Federal Government of Nigeria has paid a staggering sum of N1.1 billion in professional fees to prominent lawyers, including Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and other law firms over the past three years, according to a new report from GovSpend, a platform dedicated to tracking government expenditures.

In July 2024 alone, Babalola, Olanipekun, and Dr. Alex Izinyon were collectively paid N482.7 million. The breakdown of this payment reveals that Babalola was allocated N372.9 million for representing the government in a key legal matter. The other two lawyers, Olanipekun and Izinyon, received N103.6 million and N6.2 million, respectively.

The payments are part of an ongoing trend where the government engages several law firms for a variety of legal services, from handling litigation matters to providing expert legal advice. The funds also include VAT and withholding taxes, highlighting the significant financial commitment made to these legal professionals over the years.