The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended former Abia State Attorney General Uche Ihediwa from using the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
A statement from the LPPC Secretary, Sarki Bello, indicated that during its 163rd General meeting on July 1st, 2024, the committee thoroughly reviewed a petition submitted by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) against Mr. Ihediwa.
In December 2023, NBA President Yakubu Maikyau, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and LPPC Chairman, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, alleging that Mr. Ihediwa behaved in a manner unbecoming of a SAN. The complaint highlighted an incident at the 2023 International Bar Association Conference in Paris, where Mr. Ihediwa claimed during a session that money was exchanged for the appointment of judges in Abia State during his tenure as Attorney General.
During the session, Mr. Ihediwa alleged that while serving as a member of the Judicial Service Commission, lawyers on the Commission received bribes of up to Ten Million Naira to influence the appointment of Judicial Officers.
The NBA President criticized Mr. Ihediwa for making these allegations publicly at the session instead of reporting them to the appropriate authorities for disciplinary action. He argued that Mr. Ihediwa’s actions were unprofessional and could undermine respect for Nigerian judges and the judiciary among listeners.
The NBA President also emphasized that it is every lawyer’s duty to report any breaches of professional conduct to the appropriate authorities. He noted that subsequent attempts to obtain further information from Mr. Ihediwa to facilitate formal complaints and potential criminal investigations were unsuccessful.
The LPPC has established a committee to investigate these allegations.