LPPC Suspends Mike Ozekhome’s SAN Rank Pending Disciplinary Probe

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank conferred on renowned constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate, Professor Mike Ozekhome.

The decision was reached at the committee’s 173rd General Meeting and announced in a statement signed by the LPPC Secretary and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Kabiru Eniola Akanbi.

According to the statement, the suspension was effected pursuant to Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and is pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings before the LPPC’s Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee.

The committee explained that the measure was taken to protect the integrity, dignity and prestige associated with the SAN rank while the disciplinary process is ongoing.
Consequently, Ozekhome is prohibited from presenting himself or holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria until the disciplinary proceedings are concluded and a final decision is reached.

The LPPC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professional ethics, integrity and discipline within the legal profession, stressing that the SAN rank must continue to command public confidence and respect

However, no official finding of professional misconduct has been made against the senior lawyer, and the LPPC has not confirmed that the London property dispute is the basis for the disciplinary action.

The suspension follows months of legal controversy surrounding the senior advocate.

Earlier this year, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) instituted criminal proceedings against Ozekhome over allegations of fraud and forgery connected to the ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, Neasden, London.

The case was later taken over by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, with prosecutors alleging that forged documents, including a Nigerian passport, were presented in support of claims to the disputed property.

The matter attracted wider attention after the UK First-tier Property Tribunal rejected the ownership claims advanced by Ozekhome and other parties, citing evidence of fraud, impersonation and the use of forged documents in relation to the property.

In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja, in March, ordered the final forfeiture of the London property to the Federal Government after no claimant was able to establish lawful ownership before the court.