The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended prominent lawyer Mike Ozekhome from the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings against him.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi, following the committee’s 173rd general meeting held on June 23.
According to the statement, the suspension was approved under Paragraph 26(6) of the guidelines governing the conferment and regulation of the SAN rank.
The LPPC said the suspension would remain in effect until the conclusion of proceedings before its disciplinary and ethics sub-committee, as well as any related matters connected to the case.
The committee explained that the action was taken to protect the integrity, dignity and prestige of the SAN title while allegations against Ozekhome are being examined.
As part of the directive, Ozekhome has been barred from presenting or identifying himself as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria until a final decision is reached on the disciplinary process.
The senior lawyer is currently standing trial alongside Ponfa Useni, son of the late former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lt.-Gen. Jeremiah Useni (retd.), over allegations relating to the use of a fake Nigerian passport in a property dispute in the United Kingdom.
The pair were arraigned before the FCT High Court in Maitama in February on a 12-count charge. They pleaded not guilty and were subsequently granted bail in the sum of N10 million each with one surety.
The case centres on ownership claims over a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London. The dispute involved competing claims by Ozekhome and a party identified as Tali Shani.
Court proceedings in the UK reportedly raised questions about the authenticity of documents presented in support of ownership claims, leading to broader legal controversies surrounding the property.
The disciplinary proceedings against Ozekhome are expected to continue while the criminal case remains before the court.
We do everything possible to supply quality news and information to all our valuable readers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this.
Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.
-Advertisement-
-Want to get the news as it breaks?-
