The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended Mike Ozekhome, a senior lawyer, from the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, with the decision announced in a statement on Wednesday by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi. The suspension, taken at the committee’s 173rd general meeting held on June 23, will be in force pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against him.
The LPPC said the suspension was approved pursuant to paragraph 26(6) of the guidelines for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and all matters relating to the rank. The SAN rank is one of the highest honours in Nigeria’s legal profession and is conferred on legal practitioners who have distinguished themselves.
The development comes amid the lawyer’s involvement in a disputed property case in the United Kingdom, where a UK tribunal reportedly indicted Ozekhome for allegedly using fraudulent documents to claim ownership of a property located in London. The property was later traced to the late General Jeremiah Useni from Plateau State. The tribunal had struck out all the evidence presented by the Nigerian lawyer, alleging sharp practices in collaboration with a witness identified as Tali Shani.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had also filed a three-count charge against the lawyer at a Federal High Court in Abuja. The legal profession has been watching the case closely, as it raises questions about professional conduct and integrity. The disciplinary proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
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