The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank of prominent constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against him .
LPPC Cites Integrity of the Profession
The decision was taken at the committee’s 173rd General Meeting held on June 23, 2026 . Kabir Akanbi, Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, announced the suspension in a statement on Wednesday .
According to the statement, the suspension was approved pursuant to Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria . It will remain in force pending the final determination of proceedings before the LPPC’s Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee .
The committee directed Ozekhome to immediately stop presenting himself as a SAN for the duration of the suspension .
“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 committee stated .
The LPPC explained that the action was taken 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” .
Background: London Property Dispute
The suspension follows a series of legal troubles involving Ozekhome over a disputed property at 79 Randall Avenue, Neasden, London .
During proceedings before the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), Ozekhome claimed the property had been gifted to him in 2021 by one “Mr Tali Shani” . However, the tribunal dismissed competing claims, ruling that neither “Mr Tali Shani” nor “Ms Tali Shani” existed, and determined the actual owner was the late former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lt.-Gen. Jeremiah Useni (rtd) .
Criminal Charges Filed by Federal Government
In January 2026, the Federal Government filed charges against Ozekhome over allegations of fraud and forgery linked to the property dispute . He was later arraigned before the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, and false pretense .
Prosecutors alleged that forged documents, including a Nigerian passport purportedly issued in the name of “Mr Tali Shani,” were used to support the ownership claim before the UK tribunal . Ozekhome pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of ₦10 million .
In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of the London property to the Federal Government in March 2026 .
Ozekhome, a professor of law and one of Nigeria’s most prominent constitutional lawyers, had not publicly reacted to the suspension as of the time of filing this report .
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