THE Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee has announced the suspension of constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, from the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank, pending the determination of disciplinary proceedings against him.

    A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Kabir Akanbi, on Wednesday, June 24, said the decision was taken at the LPPC’s 173rd General Meeting held on June 23, and was approved pursuant to Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

    The statement added that the action was taken “pending the final determination of the disciplinary proceedings, presently before the Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee of the LPPC and other proceedings,” 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 directed Ozekhome to desist from presenting himself as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria during the period of suspension, assuring of its commitment 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.”

    The suspension came amid the senior lawyer’s legal battles over a property in London, United Kingdom (UK) in recent months.

    Recall that in January, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) filed criminal charges against Ozekhome over allegations of fraud and forgery linked to the disputed property on 79, Randall Avenue, Neasden, London.

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, later took over the case, while prosecutors alleged that forged documents, including a Nigerian passport, were used to support claims of ownership of the property.

    The dispute drew international attention after a UK First-tier Property Tribunal dismissed claims by Ozekhome and others, finding evidence of “fraud, impersonation and forged documents” surrounding the ownership of the house.

    In March, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government, after no claimant came forward to claim ownership.