Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended Chief Mike Ozekhome from the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against him, in a dramatic move that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria's legal profession.
The decision was taken at the committee's 173rd General Meeting held on June 23, 2026, and announced on Wednesday in a statement by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Kabir Eniola Akanbi.
According to the statement, 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 committee said the suspension would remain in force pending the final determination of disciplinary proceedings before its Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee, as well as other related proceedings.
"The suspension is intended to safeguard the integrity, dignity and prestige of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria while due consideration is given to the matters under review," the committee stated.
Consequently, the LPPC directed Ozekhome to "refrain from parading himself, presenting himself or otherwise holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria pending the conclusion of the disciplinary proceedings."
The suspension of one of Nigeria's most prominent constitutional lawyers and human rights advocates marks one of the most significant disciplinary actions taken against a senior legal practitioner in recent memory. Ozekhome, a professor of law, has been at the centre of high-profile cases and political matters for decades, including his role as counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
While the LPPC did not provide specific details of the allegations against Ozekhome, the disciplinary action is understood to be connected to a long-running and highly contentious ownership dispute over a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, Neasden, London NW2 7SX. The case has already been the subject of proceedings before the United Kingdom First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration under case number REF/2023/0155.
According to court documents, Ozekhome claimed he received the property as a gift from one "Mr Tali Shani" in 2021. However, another claimant, "Ms Tali Shani," also laid claim to the property. The tribunal subsequently dismissed all competing claims after finding that neither "Mr Tali Shani" nor "Ms Tali Shani" existed. The tribunal ultimately determined that the actual owner of the property was the late former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lieutenant General Jeremiah Useni (retd).
The controversy deepened when the Federal Government filed criminal charges against Ozekhome in January 2026. He was arraigned alongside Ponfa Useni, son of the late General Useni, before an FCT High Court sitting in Maitama in February on a 12-count charge bordering on forgery, impersonation, and the use of a fake Nigerian passport in the disputed property case. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts and were subsequently granted bail in the sum of N10 million each, with one surety in like sum.
The prosecution alleged that Ozekhome knowingly received the property from a fictitious person and subsequently used forged documents, including a Nigerian passport purportedly issued in the name of "Mr Tali Shani," to support his ownership claim before the UK tribunal. In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of the London property to the Federal Government in March after no claimant successfully established ownership before the court.
The LPPC's decision to suspend Ozekhome's SAN rank is understood to be a precautionary measure to preserve the integrity of the legal profession while the disciplinary and criminal proceedings run their course. The committee noted that it remains "committed to upholding the highest standards of professional ethics, integrity and discipline within the legal profession and to ensuring that the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria continues to command public confidence and respect."
As of the time of filing this report, Ozekhome had not publicly reacted to the suspension. The SAN rank, which is Nigeria's highest professional distinction for legal practitioners, is awarded annually to lawyers who have distinguished themselves in legal practice, legal scholarship, and contributions to the development of the law. The rank comes with a number of privileges, including a reserved seat in the "inner bar" of Nigerian courtrooms and the wearing of a special silk gown.
The suspension of Ozekhome's SAN rank will remain in effect until the disciplinary proceedings before the LPPC's Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee are finally determined. No further details regarding the timeline for those proceedings have been disclosed.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments