The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has rejected a motion to throw out a professional misconduct petition filed against Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, along with lawyers Smart Ukpanah and Hope Onyekwere.
During a session led by Kalu Umeh, SAN, defense counsel D. O. Okolo requested the dismissal of the complaint. He argued that the petitioner, Kingsley Aneubuna, had expressed a desire to withdraw the case via a formal letter and was absent from the proceedings. However, the panel firmly denied the request. The committee maintained that once a petition reaches this stage, it cannot be retracted by the complainant. The matter has been rescheduled for a definite hearing on July 29, 2026.
The dispute centers on Plot 713, Cadastral Zone B14, in the Dutse District of Abuja. The petitioner alleged that he purchased a terrace duplex from Ezechukwu’s clients, Uche Okoli and Multishelters Ltd, for N51,000,000 after being assured the property had a clear title. In 2021, the petitioner reportedly discovered the property was involved in ongoing litigation, specifically Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1182/2018, which was already under an injunction granted by Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf in 2018.
Furthermore, the petitioner claimed he was added as a co-claimant in the suit without his consent by Smart Ukpanah, and that Hope Onyekwere provided testimony on his behalf without authorization. Following these revelations, the petitioner sought to have his name removed from the court records and initiated formal proceedings at the LPDC under petition number BB/LPDC/760/2022, requesting an investigation into the conduct of the three legal practitioners.
