ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), the body responsible for enforcing ethics and discipline within Nigeria’s legal profession, has suspended six lawyers from legal practice following disciplinary proceedings on allegations of professional misconduct.
In a decision made public on Friday, the LPDC announced the suspension of Cyprian Agwuna, Esq., Edward Oseghale, Esq., Mike Adinye, Esq., Jonathan Nwagwu, Esq., and Joseph Njoku, Esq., in a matter brought before the committee by Prince Williams-Joel, Esq., and Michael Olawoyin, Esq.
According to the ruling, the suspended lawyers have been barred from practicing law in Nigeria pending further review or action by the appropriate authorities. The LPDC stated that the disciplinary action was taken after a thorough hearing process and in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act, which governs the conduct and discipline of legal professionals in the country.
“The LPDC remains committed to upholding the integrity of the legal profession and ensuring that lawyers who violate the Rules of Professional Conduct are held accountable,” the committee said in a statement.
The exact nature of the misconduct was not detailed in the statement released to the press, but sources familiar with the case said the allegations involved breaches of ethical standards, including improper conduct in the course of legal representation and possible acts that undermine the administration of justice.
Efforts to reach the suspended lawyers for comment were unsuccessful as of press time. It is not yet clear whether any of them intend to appeal the committee’s decision to the Supreme Court, as provided for under the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Procedure Rules.
Legal analysts note that while the LPDC rarely makes high-profile disciplinary decisions public, it has in recent years stepped up enforcement amid concerns over declining ethical standards within the profession.
“This decision sends a strong message that the legal profession in Nigeria will not tolerate misconduct, no matter how highly placed the practitioner may be,” said Chinyere Okonkwo, a legal ethics lecturer at the Nigerian Law School. “It’s about restoring public confidence in the legal system.”
The LPDC operates as a quasi-judicial tribunal under the Body of Benchers, the apex regulatory body of the legal profession in Nigeria. Its decisions can include suspension, disbarment, or other sanctions against lawyers found guilty of breaching professional standards.
As of publication, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had not issued a public statement regarding the suspensions. However, disciplinary decisions by the LPDC are considered binding unless overturned on appeal.
