The Legal Practitioner and Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has turned down a request to dismiss a petition against Ikechukwu Ezechukwu (SAN), Barr. Smart Ukpanah and Barr. Hope Onyekwere, over alleged misconduct.
In the petition before the LPDC, the lawyers were accused of professional misconduct, criminal misrepresentation, forgery and perjury.
During the sitting of the committee, chaired by Mr Kalu Umeh (SAN), counsel to Ezechukwu, Barrister D. O. Okolo, prayed the panel to dismiss the petition on the ground that the petitioner Kingsley Aneubuna, had decided to withdraw the petition.
He said the petitioner was aware of the proceedings but failed to appear.
According to him, the petitioner forwarded a letter to the committee notifying it of his intention to withdraw the petition.
He therefore urged the committee to dismiss the petition, particularly because the petitioner failed to appear.
He said, “The petitioner forwarded a letter notifying the committee of the intention to withdraw the petition. The petitioner is very much aware of the proceedings but is not before the panel.”
The panel’s chairman, in his response, turned down the request, saying that the panel does not allow the withdrawal of petitions already before it.
According to him, once issues have been joined, petitions cannot be withdrawn.
“Since issues have been joined, we are obligated by the rules of this committee to adopt the processes filed by the petitioner,” the chairman said.
The case was further adjourned to July 29, 2026, for a definite hearing.
The petition arose from a disputed property between Ngozika Nwaneri and Uche Okoli and his company, Multi Shelters Limited, which are the claimants in (Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1182/2018) between Uche Okoli & Ors V EFCC & Ors.
The subject matter of the suit is a dispute over Plot No. 713, Cadastral Zone B14, Dutse District, Abuja, where the SAN’s (1st Respondent) clients, Uche Okoli/Multi Shelters Ltd and one Dr Ngozika Nwaneri, lay claim to title to the land.
The petitioner was offered a terrace duplex on the disputed land in 2018 by Mr Uche Okoli and Multi Shelters Ltd, clients of the SAN, for the sum of N51,000,000.
