RismadarVoice Reporters
June 24, 2026
The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank of prominent constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against him.
The decision was reached at the LPPC’s 173rd General Meeting held on June 23, 2026.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Kabir Akanbi, the committee said the suspension was approved pursuant to Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
According to the statement, the suspension will remain in effect pending the final determination of disciplinary proceedings currently before the Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee of the LPPC, as well as other related proceedings.
The committee stated that the measure was necessary to protect the integrity, dignity, and prestige of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria while the matters under review are being considered.
As part of the directive, Ozekhome has been instructed not to hold himself out or present himself as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria throughout the duration of the suspension.
The LPPC reiterated its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professional ethics, integrity, and discipline within the legal profession, stressing that the SAN rank must continue to enjoy public confidence and respect.
The suspension comes against the backdrop of ongoing legal and disciplinary matters involving the senior lawyer.
According to reports, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed criminal charges against Ozekhome in January over allegations of fraud and forgery connected to a disputed property located at 79 Randall Avenue, Neasden, London. The matter was later taken over by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Prosecutors reportedly alleged that forged documents, including a Nigerian passport, were used to support ownership claims relating to the property.
The dispute also attracted international attention following a decision by a UK First-tier Property Tribunal, which reportedly dismissed ownership claims advanced by Ozekhome and others, citing evidence of alleged fraud, impersonation, and forged documents.
In March, the Federal High Court in Abuja reportedly ordered the final forfeiture of the London property to the Federal Government after no claimant successfully established ownership.
The allegations and proceedings against Chief Ozekhome remain subject to ongoing legal and disciplinary processes, and no final determination has yet been made regarding the substantive issues involved.
