Gadzama rejects LPDC’s three-year suspension, heads to S’Court

Prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, has rejected the decision of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) suspending him from legal practice for three years, announcing plans to challenge the ruling before the Supreme Court.

The disciplinary proceedings arose from Petition No. BB/LPDC/1314/2024 filed by lawyer Chris Alashi.
The complaint stemmed from a protracted dispute over the payment of an ₦8 billion Federal Government compensation awarded to victims of the 2001 Zaki Biam massacre in Benue State.

Specifically, the petition alleged that Gadzama improperly took over another lawyer’s brief in relation to the Zaki Biam compensation matter, improperly solicited clients and wrongfully appropriated professional legal fees arising from the ₦8 billion settlement.

Although the senior lawyer denied the allegations, the LPDC, chaired by Justice Halima Ibrahim, found Gadzama and his co-respondent, Ocha P. Ulegede, Esq., guilty of breaching the cited Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners.

The Committee consequently imposed a three-year suspension on Gadzama from legal practice.
Reacting in a statement issued on Thursday and made available to journalists, Gadzama rejected the Committee’s findings and said he would immediately file a notice of appeal before the Supreme Court.

He disclosed that his attention had been drawn to the LPDC’s decision delivered on July 29, 2026, but noted that he was yet to receive the Certified True Copy of the judgment.

According to the senior lawyer, he has already instructed his legal team to commence the appeal process.
Gadzama maintained that, by virtue of Section 11(8)(a) of the Legal Practitioners Act, filing an appeal within the statutory period automatically preserves his right to continue practising law pending the determination of the appeal.

“Upon the filing of the appeal within the time prescribed by law, my right to practise as a legal practitioner remains unaffected pending the final determination of the appeal,” he stated.

He assured clients, colleagues and members of the public that his chambers remain open and that all professional engagements would continue uninterrupted while the appeal is pending.

Responding to the allegations against him, Gadzama insisted that they were unfounded.

“The complaint against me alleged that I improperly took over another lawyer’s brief, solicited clients and wrongfully appropriated professional fees. Those allegations are, with respect, unfounded,” he said.

He explained that he was retained directly by the judgment creditors through written letters of instruction and acted strictly within the scope of that mandate throughout the matter.

Gadzama further argued that the documentary evidence presented before the LPDC did not support its findings. He also contended that the dispute essentially concerned legal representation and professional fees, matters he believes should not have been escalated into disciplinary proceedings.

While expressing respect for the institutions regulating the legal profession, he said he fundamentally disagreed with the Committee’s conclusions, describing them as unsupported by both the evidence and applicable law.

The senior advocate expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would objectively examine both the facts and the legal issues raised in the appeal.

“I trust in the judicial process and remain confident that justice will ultimately prevail,” he said.
Gadzama also thanked colleagues, clients, friends and members of the public for their support and goodwill following the LPDC’s decision.

Reaffirming his commitment to the rule of law and professional ethics, he said the appeal is not only about his personal interests but also about safeguarding due process within the legal profession.

With the notice of appeal expected to be filed immediately, the matter is now set to proceed to the Supreme Court, which will have the final say on the dispute.