Chief Mike Ozekhome has been suspended from the rank of senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against him.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Kabir Akanbi, chief registrar of the supreme court, said the decision was taken at the committee’s 173rd general meeting held on June 23.
The LPPC said 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.
According to the committee, the suspension will 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 is intended 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 statement reads.
“Accordingly, Chief Mike Ozekhome shall refrain from parading himself, presenting himself, or otherwise holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria pending the final determination of the disciplinary proceedings.”
Ozekhome is standing trial alongside Ponfa Useni, son of the late Jeremiah Useni, former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for allegedly using a fake Nigerian passport in a disputed property case in the United Kingdom (UK).
They were arraigned on a 12-count charge before Chizoba Oji, judge of the FCT high court in Maitama in February.
They pleaded not guilty to all the counts, after which they were each granted bail in the sum of N10 million, a surety in like sum. The sureties must have properties within the FCT.
The controversy centres on a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
Named in the property dispute are Ozekhome and Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general who is now deceased.
The case was filed at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.
The property had been claimed by one “Ms Tali Shani” on one hand and Ozekhome on the other.
Ozekhome said he received the house as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, while lawyers for “Ms Shani” insisted she was the rightful owner.
A witness known as “Mr Tali Shani” testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming that he had “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent (Ozekhome).
Mr Tali Shani asserted ownership of the property from 1993 and claimed he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing Useni as an “elder friend and business partner”.
On the other hand, several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number, etc were tendered by witnesses of “Ms Tali Shani” to claim ownership of the property.
However, the tribunal found all the documents tendered for “Ms Tali Shani” to be fake. The tribunal subsequently dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.
