The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended Uche Ihediwa, former Attorney General of Abia State, from using the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) pending the outcome of investigations into allegations against him.
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According to a statement by LPPC Secretary Sarki Bello, the committee, during its 163rd General Meeting on July 1, 2024, reviewed a petition from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) regarding Mr. Ihediwa.
In December 2023, NBA President Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and LPPC Chairman, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, alleging that Mr. Ihediwa had behaved in a manner unbefitting of a SAN.
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The NBA President’s complaint stemmed from statements Mr. Ihediwa made at the 2023 International Bar Association Conference in Paris.
During a showcase session, Mr. Ihediwa claimed that bribes were exchanged in the appointment of judges in Abia State while he was Attorney General.
Mr. Ihediwa alleged that members of the Judicial Service Commission, including lawyers, accepted bribes of up to ten million naira to influence judicial appointments.
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The NBA President criticized Mr. Ihediwa for making these allegations publicly at the conference instead of reporting them to the proper authorities, arguing that his actions undermined respect for the judiciary and the administration of justice.
The NBA President emphasized that lawyers have a duty to report breaches of professional conduct to the relevant authorities for disciplinary action.
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He noted that his attempts to obtain more information from Mr. Ihediwa to facilitate formal complaints and potential criminal investigations were ignored.
The LPPC has formed a committee to investigate the allegations against Mr. Ihediwa. Pending the investigation’s conclusion, Mr. Ihediwa is prohibited from using the SAN title.
