LPDC Insists On Hearing Alleged Misconduct Petition Against Senior Advocate, Two Others

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, has rejected a request to dismiss a petition against Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, SAN and two other lawyers, Barrister Smart Ukpanah and Barrister Hope Onyekwere.

During the sitting of the panel of the LPDC, chaired by Mr Kalu Umeh, SAN, counsel to Ezechukwu, Barrister D. O. Okolo, asked the court to strike out the petition on the basis that the petitioner, Kingsley Aneubuna, had decided to withdraw it.

He stated that the petitioner had sent a letter informing the committee of his decision to withdraw the petition. More particularly, the petitioner failed to appear for the sitting, and he urged the committee to dismiss the petition.

The petitioner sent a letter to the committee advising that the petition was to be withdrawn. “The petitioner is well aware of the proceedings but is not before the panel,” he said.

But the panel in its response, rejected the request, saying that the LPDC does not allow withdrawal of petitions already before it.

Once issues have been joined petitions cannot be withdrawn, the panel said.

The matter was adjourned for final hearing to July 29, 2026.

The petition was instigated by a property dispute between Ngozika Nwaneri and Uche Okoli and his company, Multishelters Limited who are claimants in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1182/2018 – Uche Okoli & Ors V EFCC & Ors.

The subject matter of the suit is the dispute over Plot No. 713, Cadastral Zone B14, Dutse District, Abuja, where the SAN’s (1st Respondent) clients, Uche Okoli/Multishelters Ltd and one Dr. Ngozika Nwaneri are claiming title to the land.

The petitioner was allegedly offered a terrace duplex on the disputed land in 2018 by Mr. Uche Okoli and Multishelters Ltd who are clients of the SAN for the sum of N51,000,000.00.

Before making payment, the petitioner and her lawyer reportedly enquired from the SAN the status of the property and was assured that it had a clean title that was unencumbered.

As per the assurances, the petitioner agreed to the offer of the property and made the necessary payment and the parties signed agreement for the transaction.

The period of completion of the house was about two years during which time the petitioner is expected to clear all payments. The petitioner later allegedly noticed the slow pace of work on the property and demanded to know the reason but was assured that the property will still be delivered within the agreed timeline.

In 2021, the petitioner allegedly discovered that there was litigation over the property in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1182/2018, which was filed by the Senior Advocate (1st Respondent) in March 2018, where the court, presided over by Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf (the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court), granted injunction in 2018.

It is contended that the Petitioner also found out that she was added as a co-claimant in the suit without her knowledge or consent by one Barr Smart Ukpanah (the 2nd Respondent) who filed court processes and appeared for her and other subscribers in court without her knowledge or authority, and that one Barrister Hope C. Onyekwere gave evidence in court on behalf of the Petitioner and others without their knowledge or authority.

The petitioner later engaged a lawyer to approach the court to have her name struck out of the suit and later filed a petition against the respondents before the LPDC in petition No. BB/LPDC/760/2022.

The petitioner is asking the LPDC to investigate the respondents, all of whom are legal practitioners, for alleged misconduct.