LPPC Suspends Mike Ozekhome’s SAN Rank Pending Disciplinary Proceedings

The Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended prominent lawyer Mike Ozekhome from the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings currently before its ethics panel and other related matters.

The decision was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by Kabir Akanbi, Secretary of the LPPC and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, following the committee’s 173rd General Meeting held on June 23, 2026.

According to the LPPC, 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.

The committee said the action would remain in effect until disciplinary proceedings before its Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee, as well as other related proceedings, are finally determined.

“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 committee stated.

As part of the directive, Ozekhome has been instructed to refrain from presenting himself, parading himself or otherwise holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria pending the conclusion of the proceedings.

LPPC Defends Decision

The LPPC stressed that the suspension does not represent a final determination of the matters before it but is intended to protect public confidence in the country's highest legal distinction while investigations and disciplinary reviews continue.

The committee reiterated its commitment to maintaining professional ethics, discipline and integrity within the legal profession.

“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 statement added.

Background to the Case

While the LPPC did not disclose the specific complaints forming the basis of the disciplinary proceedings, Ozekhome has recently been linked to a high-profile legal dispute involving a property in London.

The senior lawyer has faced allegations relating to the use of allegedly forged documents, including a passport and an irrevocable power of attorney, in connection with claims over a property located at 79 Randall Avenue in North London.

In September 2025, a United Kingdom property tribunal dismissed claims relating to the property and found that the case before it was based on forged documents and impersonation.

Following the judgment, Nigerian authorities initiated separate investigations into issues arising from the dispute.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) subsequently launched an investigation, while criminal charges were later filed against Ozekhome over alleged forgery and the use of false documents connected to the property matter.

In February 2026, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation re-arraigned Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

The defendants were arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on allegations of forgery and impersonation.

The amended charge followed an earlier case in which Ozekhome was the sole defendant.

Ozekhome has consistently denied all allegations and maintains that he committed no wrongdoing.

Significance of the SAN Rank

The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is regarded as the highest professional distinction available to legal practitioners in the country.

It is awarded annually to lawyers and academics who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in legal practice, scholarship and contributions to the development of the law.

Recipients of the rank enjoy a number of privileges, including precedence in court appearances, reserved seating within the inner bar and special recognition during official legal proceedings.

The LPPC is responsible for conferring the rank and preserving its standards, including investigating complaints and imposing disciplinary measures where necessary under its guidelines.

The suspension of a SAN remains a rare and significant development within Nigeria's legal profession and is likely to attract close attention from members of the bar, the bench and the wider public as the disciplinary process unfolds.