The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended Chief from the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against him.
The decision was contained in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Secretary of the LPPC, Kabir E. A. The committee said the suspension was reached at its 173rd General Meeting held on June 23, 2026.
According to the statement, the action was taken pursuant to Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and related provisions governing the rank. The committee said the measure will remain in force pending the final determination of ongoing disciplinary proceedings before the LPPC Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee and other related processes.
The LPPC said the suspension is intended to safeguard the integrity, dignity, and prestige of the SAN rank while the matters under review are being considered. It directed that Ozekhome must not hold himself out or be presented as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria until the disciplinary process is concluded.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high ethical standards, discipline, and public confidence in the legal profession.
The suspension places Ozekhome’s professional status in a temporary but sensitive position, as the SAN rank is a key marker of seniority and influence within Nigeria’s legal system. While it does not amount to a final determination of misconduct, it effectively strips him of the privileges and professional recognition associated with the title during the pendency of the disciplinary process. The outcome of the ongoing proceedings will be crucial in determining whether his standing is restored or further sanctioned, making this a significant moment for both his career and reputation within the legal community.
