The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria have been asked to nullify the suspension of constitutional lawyer Mike Ozekhome’s Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title.
The legal action follows the decision of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Commission (LPPC) to suspend Ozekhome’s SAN status during its 173rd general meeting held on June 23, 2026.
According to the LPPC, the suspension was intended to protect the integrity, dignity, and prestige of the SAN rank while disciplinary proceedings against Ozekhome remain pending before the commission’s Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee.
However, the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), which had earlier urged the commission to reverse the suspension, has challenged the decision before both the ECOWAS Court and the National Industrial Court.
In its suit before the ECOWAS Court, ALDRAP argued that the suspension violated Ozekhome’s right to a fair hearing and the presumption of innocence, as protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The association maintained that the senior lawyer was suspended before any finding of guilt and without being given an opportunity to defend himself.
The association also alleged that the Federal Government acted selectively by taking over Ozekhome’s prosecution while failing to do the same in cases involving other Senior Advocates facing similar allegations. It claimed the action amounted to unequal treatment and discrimination.
ALDRAP further argued that the government’s actions interfered with its freedom of association and sought declarations affirming that Ozekhome’s rights had been violated.
Among its requests, the association asked the ECOWAS Court to set aside the LPPC’s decision, restore Ozekhome’s SAN rank immediately, and award him ₦500 million in compensation for the alleged violation of his rights. It also sought an interim order directing that his title be reinstated pending the final determination of the case.
In a separate suit before the National Industrial Court, ALDRAP challenged the legality of the suspension, arguing that disciplinary investigations involving legal practitioners fall within the jurisdiction of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) rather than the LPPC.
The association also claimed the suspension amounted to selective justice and double standards, alleging that other senior lawyers facing criminal prosecution had not been subjected to similar sanctions.
The suit asked the court to quash the suspension and compel the LPPC to restore Ozekhome’s SAN status pending the conclusion of all ongoing legal proceedings against him.
