In a development that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s legal community, the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended prominent constitutional lawyer and public affairs commentator, Chief Mike Ozekhome, from using the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The decision, finalized at the LPPC’s 173rd General Meeting on June 23, 2026, was officially announced on Wednesday evening via a statement signed by Kabir Akanbi, the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC. The regulatory body explicitly stripped Ozekhome of the privileges of the rank, ordering him to immediately refrain from parading or holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
The Catalyst: The Messy London Property Fraud Dispute
While the LPPC’s official press release states the interim suspension is to “safeguard the integrity, dignity, and prestige of the Rank,” the disciplinary action directly stems from an international real estate scandal that has metastasized into severe criminal and civil battles.
- The UK Property Tribunal Findings: The root of the scandal links back to a fiercely contested property located at 79 Randall Avenue, Neasden, North London. In September 2025, a UK First-tier Property Tribunal dismissed ownership claims advanced by Ozekhome and his associates, explicitly ruling that the case brought before it was heavily built upon fraud, impersonation, and forged documents.
- The Forgery Allegations: Prosecutors allege that Ozekhome utilized an entirely falsified Nigerian passport alongside a forged irrevocable power of attorney to unlawfully lay claim to the multi-million naira London asset.
- The Federal Forfeiture: Following an extensive investigation launched by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)—which was later taken over directly by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF)—the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of the London property to the Federal Government of Nigeria after no claimant could establish a legitimate, lawful title.
The Legal Framework: How the LPPC Enforced the Ban
The suspension of a SAN rank is a highly rare and consequential action within Nigeria’s legal system, reserved only for exceptional cases of alleged professional or criminal misconduct.
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| Regulatory Element | The LPPC Directive & Rationale |
| Statutory Authority | The committee invoked Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and All Matters Pertaining to the Rank to justify the immediate freeze. |
| The Interim Mandate | The LPPC clarified that the suspension is a protective measure rather than a final verdict, remaining firmly in place pending the final determination of the formal disciplinary proceedings currently sitting before its Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee. |
| Standard of Practice | The statement re-emphasized that the body remains fiercely committed to “upholding the highest standards of professional ethics, integrity, and discipline within the legal profession and ensuring the rank continues to command public confidence.” |
What’s Next for Ozekhome?
Chief Mike Ozekhome has vehemently denied any wrongdoing throughout the multi-month legal saga, framing the property battle as a legitimate dispute and resisting the forgery characterizations.
However, with criminal charges of forgery and impersonation still actively pending against him and a co-defendant before the FCT High Court in Maitama, the LPPC’s decisive intervention strips him of his most powerful professional armor. Until the Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee delivers its final ruling, the famous constitutional advocate is legally barred from donning the silk gown or addressing any Nigerian court under the title of Senior Advocate.
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