Popular Nigerian lawyer Chief Mike Ozhekome has been suspended on Wednesday by the Legal Practioners Privileges Committee (LPPC).
Ozhekome’s suspension was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi, following the committee’s 173rd General Meeting held on June 23.
According to the statement, the suspension was approved pursuant to Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and all matters relating to the rank.
While the reason for the suspension was not disclosed, the LPPC stated that the suspension would remain in force pending the final determination of disciplinary proceedings before its Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee, as well as other related proceedings.
“The suspension shall remain in force pending the final determination of the disciplinary proceedings before the LPPC’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee and any other related processes,” the statement read.
Ozekhome, a prominent constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate, is one of Nigeria’s most recognisable Senior Advocates.
However, details of the disciplinary allegations against him were not immediately disclosed by the committee.
Ozekhome’s suspension comes months after the scandals bordering on forgery over some London properties allegedly converted for personal use without the due process.
There have been disputes over a property in the United Kingdom where Ozekhome was reportedly indicted for allegedly using fraudulent documents to claim ownership of the property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
The property was said to belong to a former Nigerian military top brass, late General Jeremiah Useni from Plateau State.
The lawyer’s arguments were said to have been waved aside by the London court as it alleged that Ozekhome had connived with another person to perpetuate the alleged fraud.
The collaborator was identified as Tali Shani.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had filed a 3-count charge against the lawyer at a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The charge marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026 was filed by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, head of High Profile Prosecution Department at the agency, and Ngozi Onwuka, Assistant Chief Legal Officer, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The charges border on giving false information, use of forged documents, and attempting to deceive a public authority.
COUNT ONE read: That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August, 2021 or thereabout at a place outside Nigeria i.e. London, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, directly received house 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX purportedly given to you by one Mr Shani Tali, an act you knew constitutes a felony and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 13 and punishable under section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, Act, 2000.
At the break of the scandal, many Nigerians had expressed surprise given Ozekhome’s public standing as a constitutional and human rights advocate.
The lawyer had been involved in many pro-democracy and human rights cases which had earned him popularity within the Nigerian affairs.