The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended a former Attorney General of Abia State, Uche Ihediwa from further using the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The suspension would remain until the outcome of an on-going investigations against him.
A statement from the Secretary of the LPPC, Sarki Bello, said the committee at its 163rd General meeting held on July 1st, 2024, considered extensively a petition written by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) against Mr. Ihediwa.
In December 2023, the President of the NBA, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yakubu Maikyau, had written the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the LPPC, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to complain that Mr Ihediwa conducted himself in a manner incompatible with the dignity and honor of the rank of SAN.
The NBA President specifically cited an incident at the 2023 International Bar Association Conference in Paris where Mr Ihediwa alleged during a showcase session that monies exchanged hands in the process of appointment of judges in Abia State when he served as the Attorney General of the state.
At the session, Mr Ihediwa had alleged that when he served as member of the Judicial Service Commission, lawyers, who were members of the Commission, received bribes of up to Ten Milion Naira, to influence the appointments of Judicial Officers.
The NBA President said by announcing the said allegations against judicial officers at the session instead of reporting to the appropriate authorities to discipline the affected persons, Mr Ihediwa acted unprofessionally and conducted himself in a manner which adversely affected the administration of justice as listeners will cease to have respect for Nigerian judges and the judiciary.
The NBA President also noted that it is the duty of every lawyer to report any breach of the rules of professional conduct that comes to his knowledge to the appropriate authorities for necessary disciplinary action and subsequent attempts by him to get information about the breach from Mr Ihediwa to enable the Association make formal complaints to the relevant body so that criminal investigation and possible prosecution may be commenced against them, were not acknowledged.
The LPPC has since set up a committee to investigate the allegations.
