Resignations Hit NBA Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (LPDC) has been hit with unexpected resignations of some of its senior members, including Mr. E.C. Ukala SAN, the Chairman, and Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN.

In a letter to the Body of Benchers dated February 24, Chief Orbih said, ‘I write to notify the Body of Benchers (hereinafter referred to as the Honourable Body) of my resignation as member of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) with effect from February 24th 2022.

‘My resignation stems from the events that took place at the meeting of the Body of Benchers on the 22nd of November 2021, wherein, the Honourable Body assumed jurisdiction over the Petition of Lucius E. Nwosu, SAN. Lucius Nwosu, SAN in his Petition, complained about the finding of the LPDC that a prima facie case had been made against him.

‘It is my humble view that by assuming jurisdiction over the said Petition, the Body of Benchers was in clear breach of Section 12 (7) of the Legal Practitioners Act, which provides that appeals in respect of decisions of the LPDC, can only be entertained by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Clearly, that section did not vest on the Body of Benchers, the power to seat as an appellate body over decisions of the LPDC.

‘The lawmaker gave the LPDC a great measure of independence because of the vital role it plays to ensure that the highest form of discipline is maintained amongst Legal Practitioners in Nigeria. That independence is obliterated when the Honourable Body brings the LPDC under its control and direction, in clear violation of due process.

‘In the above circumstances, my continued membership of the LPDC has become untenable, as I can no longer in good conscience serve in that Committee.

‘I am therefore left with no other option, than to resign my membership of the LPDC. I am grateful to the Honourable Body of Benchers for the opportunity given to me, to be of service to the legal profession.’

The legal community anxiously await the immediate and remote cause of these resignations, and the impact it would have on the cohesion of the Bar and the Bench.