LPDC rejects application to strike out misconduct petition against SAN

LPDC rejects application to strike out misconduct petition against SAN

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has refused an application seeking the dismissal of a petition accusing Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and two other lawyers over “professional misconduct”.

The committee turned down the application at its sitting on Friday and fixed July 29 for the substantive hearing of the petition.

D. O. Okolo, counsel to Ezechukwu, had asked the panel to strike out the matter after informing the committee that Kingsley Aneubuna, the petitioner, had indicated his intention to withdraw the case.

Okolo argued that although the petitioner was aware of the proceedings, he failed to appear before the committee to prosecute the matter.

However, Kalu Umeh, chairman of the LPDC panel, held that the committee’s rules do not allow the withdrawal of a petition once parties have joined issues.

He said the panel was bound to proceed by adopting the processes already filed by the petitioner.

The petition, marked BB/LPDC/760/2022, was filed against Ezechukwu, Smart Ukpanah and Hope Onyekwere.

The petitioner accused the three lawyers of professional misconduct over their alleged roles in a disputed property transaction involving Ngozika Nwaneri, Uche Okoli and Multi Shelters Limited.

According to the petition, the dispute centres on Plot 713, Cadastral Zone B14, Dutse District, Abuja, which is the subject of a suit before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court.

The petitioner alleged that in 2018, he agreed to purchase a terrace duplex on the property for N51 million after Ezechukwu allegedly assured him that the title was free from any encumbrance.

He claimed he later discovered that the property was already the subject of pending litigation and that an injunction had been granted in the case before the transaction.

The petition further alleged that Ukpanah joined the petitioner as a claimant in the court case without his knowledge or authorisation, while Onyekwere allegedly testified on his behalf without his consent.

The petitioner also accused Ezechukwu of presenting a forged copy of the sale agreement and knowingly misrepresenting the status of the property despite the pending court proceedings.

The petitioner asked the LPDC to investigate the lawyers for alleged professional misconduct.