By John Azu
The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended prominent lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome from the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings against him.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Kabir Akanbi.
According to Akanbi, the suspension was approved at the committee’s 173rd General Meeting held on June 23 and was taken pursuant to Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and All Matters Pertaining to the Rank.
He explained that the suspension would remain in effect pending the final determination of disciplinary proceedings currently before the LPPC’s Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee, as well as other related proceedings.
Akanbi said the measure was necessary to protect the integrity and prestige of the SAN rank while the allegations against Ozekhome are being reviewed.
The statement reads further:
“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.
“The LPPC remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professional ethics, integrity, and discipline within the legal profession and to ensuring that the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria continues to command public confidence and respect.”
The suspension comes amid ongoing criminal proceedings involving Ozekhome and others over the ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom.
In February, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice filed a fresh 12-count charge against Ozekhome shortly after withdrawing an earlier case. The charges relate to the alleged falsification of an international passport and other documents purportedly used to claim ownership of the London property.
The Federal Government alleged that Ozekhome, alongside Ponfe Useni, also known as Tali Shani, and the late General Jeremiah Useni, conspired between 2020 and 2025 to create and use a false Nigerian international passport bearing the name Tali Shani and passport number A07535463.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly used the passport and other documents to support a claim to the property at 79 Randall Avenue.
The government further alleged that the defendants falsely personated Tali Shani, described as a fictitious person, and executed a Power of Attorney dated May 30, 2020, which was subsequently used in connection with the property claim.
Ozekhome is also accused of having control of £18,000 in rental income derived from the property in 2022. Prosecutors claim the property was reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully acquired by the late General Useni through the use of the fictitious identity.
In addition, the defendants are alleged to have produced a false document titled “Re: Request for Authentication of Nigerian Passport No. A07535463 belonging to Mr Tali Shani,” dated May 4, 2023, and purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service to bolster their claim to the property.
The offences are said to be contrary to Sections 83, 84, 96, 179, 321, 363 and 366 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and are punishable under Section 364 of the same law.
The allegations remain before the court, and no conviction has been recorded against any of the defendants.