The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday declared unconstitutional the enforcement of a three-year suspension imposed on Senior Advocate of Nigeria Chief J-K Gadzama by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
Justice Umar Mohammed granted the reliefs sought by Gadzama and held that the LPDC Direction issued on 29 July 2026 in Complaint No. BB/LPDC/1314/2024, Chris Alashi v. Ocha P. Ulegede and another, was unconstitutional insofar as it affected him. The court found that enforcing the Direction without an effective appellate mechanism was inconsistent with Sections 36(1), 36(2) and 6(6)(b) of the Constitution. It also held that the LPDC lacked jurisdiction in the matter, rendering the decision against Gadzama unenforceable.
The court restrained the respondents from implementing, publishing, transmitting or otherwise giving effect to the Direction as it relates to Gadzama.
It further restrained the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court from making any disciplinary notation against him pursuant to the Direction or treating its publication as a final disciplinary determination.
The respondents are the Body of Benchers, the LPDC, the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Chris Alashi.
The proceedings grew out of a dispute over legal representation and professional fees connected to compensation from the Zaki-Biam litigation in Benue State. Gadzama maintained that he never had a professional relationship with Alashi, the LPDC complainant, and never received instructions from him. He said he was separately instructed by some of the judgment creditors.
The LPDC had directed that Gadzama be suspended from practice for three years and that Ocha P. Ulegede be suspended for two years. Before Monday’s judgment, the Federal High Court had granted Gadzama leave to seek judicial review and an order of certiorari.
Gadzama had argued that the disciplinary process misconstrued the dispute and subjected him to professional sanction over issues of representation, retainership and fees. After the LPDC decision, he said he was retained directly by the judgment creditors through written letters of instruction and acted in accordance with that retainer. “In my respectful view, the documentary evidence before the Committee does not support the findings made against me,” he said.
The Zaki-Biam case arose from a 2001 Nigerian military operation in Benue State. Survivors later sued the Federal Government. A 2007 judgment awarded ₦41.8 billion in compensation before an out-of-court settlement of ₦8 billion was later negotiated.
A statement issued after the ruling said the judgment opened a judicial avenue for lawyers challenging disciplinary decisions they believe were made outside proper jurisdiction or without adequate regard for fair hearing. It added that the reliefs granted remain subject to the establishment of an effective appellate platform for challenging decisions of disciplinary authorities.
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