The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has petitioned the ECOWAS Court of Justice and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to overturn the Legal Practitioners Privileges Commission’s (LPPC) decision to suspend the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) status of constitutional lawyer Mike Ozekhome.
The suspension was enacted during the LPPC’s 173rd general meeting on June 23, 2026. Secretary Kabir Akanbi stated the move was intended to preserve the rank’s integrity pending a disciplinary sub-committee review. However, ALDRAP argues the action is improper while related litigation is ongoing.
In the suit against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Ozekhome, the plaintiff claims the government violated Ozekhome’s right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence under the African Charter. They further allege the Attorney-General of the Federation exercised selective prosecution by targeting Ozekhome while ignoring other SANs facing similar corruption allegations, such as Abubakar Malami.
ALDRAP seeks an order to immediately restore Ozekhome’s rank, pay N500 million in damages, and mandate a fair trial process. Furthermore, the group argues in the National Industrial Court that only the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) possesses the authority to handle such disciplinary matters. They contend the LPPC’s action constitutes a violation of constitutional protections against double jeopardy and reflects an unfair application of standards compared to other legal professionals currently under investigation.
