The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended Uche Ihediwa from using the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) amid ongoing investigations into bribery allegations, following a petition from the Nigerian Bar Association.
The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended Uche Ihediwa, former Attorney General of Abia State, from using the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) pending the outcome of investigations into allegations of judicial bribery. This decision was reached during the LPPC’s 163rd General Meeting on July 1, 2024, where the committee extensively reviewed a petition filed by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The petition, submitted in December 2023 by NBA President Yakubu Maikyau, highlighted concerns over Ihediwa’s conduct, which allegedly undermined the integrity of the SAN rank. The NBA President referenced an incident at the 2023 International Bar Association Conference in Paris, where Ihediwa claimed that bribes were exchanged to influence judicial appointments in Abia State during his tenure as Attorney General.
At the Paris conference, Ihediwa alleged that members of the Judicial Service Commission received bribes of up to ten million naira to secure judicial appointments. This public declaration, instead of a formal report to the appropriate authorities, was deemed unprofessional by the NBA. Maikyau asserted that Ihediwa’s actions could erode public trust in the Nigerian judiciary.
Following the public allegations, subsequent attempts by the NBA to gather more information from Ihediwa for formal complaints and possible prosecution were unsuccessful. As a result, the LPPC has constituted a committee to investigate these serious allegations thoroughly.
The suspension of Ihediwa’s SAN privileges underscores the LPPC’s commitment to upholding the integrity and honor of the legal profession in Nigeria. The investigation’s findings will determine the final outcome regarding Ihediwa’s status as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
This development has sparked significant attention within the legal community, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address corruption and maintain professional standards in Nigeria’s judicial system.
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