The Lagos State Government has issued a strong warning to legal practitioners who engage in the collection of agency fees on behalf of property owners—an act it has described as illegal and outside the scope of legal practice.
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This caution was delivered by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Barrister (Mrs.) Barakat Olawunmi Odunuga-Bakare, during a stakeholders’ engagement with professionals in the built environment sector held on [insert date, e.g., April 17, 2025].
Barr. Odunuga-Bakare emphasized that the primary role of legal practitioners in property transactions is limited to the preparation of contractual agreements between landlords and tenants, based on agreed terms and duration. She stressed that the collection of agency or commission fees is solely the responsibility of licensed estate agents.
“The collection of agency fees falls strictly within the purview of registered commission agents—not lawyers,” she stated firmly. “Legal practitioners who indulge in such practices are acting beyond their professional mandate and will be sanctioned accordingly.”
She further disclosed that erring legal practitioners will be reported to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for appropriate disciplinary action, adding that such behavior undermines the integrity of the legal profession and distorts the property market.
In a broader warning to the industry, Odunuga-Bakare condemned the activities of unregistered individuals and quacks who exploit tenants by charging arbitrary and excessive fees. She called on them to desist or risk facing legal consequences.
“The Lagos State Government is fully committed to sanitizing the built environment and protecting residents from sharp practices,” she said. “We will not hesitate to take legal action against violators who continue to exploit innocent citizens.”
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