By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Legal Practitioner and Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has turned down a request to dismiss a petition against three lawyers, including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, Barrister Smart Ukpanah and Barrister Hope Onyekwere, over alleged misconduct.

During the sitting of the panel of the committee, chaired by Mr Kalu Umeh, SAN, counsel to Ezechkwu, Barrister D. O. Okolo, prayed the court to dismiss the petition on the ground that the petitioner Kingsley Aneubuna, has decided to withdraw the petition.

According to him, the petitioner forwarded a letter, notifying the committee of his intention to withdraw the petition. He urged the committee to dismiss the petition, more particularly, as the petitioner failed to show up.

He said: “The petitioner forwarded a letter, notifying the committee of the intention to withdraw the petition. The petitioner is very much aware of the proceedings but is not before the panel.”

But the panel in its response, turned down the request, saying that the LPDC does not allow withdrawal of petitions already before it.

According to the panel, once issues have been joined, petitions can no longer be withdrawn.

The case was adjourned to July 29, 2026 for definite hearing.

The petition arose over a disputed property between Ngozika Nwaneri and Uche Okoli and his company, Multishelters Limited who are claimants in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1182/2018 – Uche Okoli & Ors V EFCC & Ors.

The subject matter of the suit is dispute over Plot No. 713, Cadastral Zone B14, Dutse District, Abuja, where the SAN’s (1st Respondent) clients, Uche Okoli/Multishelters Ltd and one Dr. Ngozika Nwaneri are laying claim to title to the land.

The petitioner was reportedly offered a terrace duplex in the disputed land in 2018 by Mr. Uche Okoli and Multishelters Ltd who are clients of the SAN for the sum of N51,000,000.00.

Before making payment, the petitioner and her lawyer reportedly enquired from the SAN on the status of the property and was assured that it had a clean title that was unencumbered.

Consequent upon the assurances, the petitioner accepted the offer of the property and made the necessary payment and the parties signed agreement for the transaction.

The duration for completion of the house was about two years over which period the petitioner is expected to complete all payments. The petitioner later, allegedly, noticed the slow pace of work on the property and demanded to know the reason but was assured that the property will still be delivered within the agreed timeline.

In 2021, the petitioner discovered that there was litigation over the property in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1182/2018, which was filed by the Senior Advocate (1st Respondent) in March 2018, where the court, presided over by Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf (the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court), granted injunction in 2018.

The petitioner also discovered that she had been joined in the suit as a co-claimant, without her knowledge or consent, by one Barr Smart Ukpanah (the 2nd Respondent) who filed court processes and represented her and other subscribers in court, allegedly without any authorization, and that one Barrister Hope C. Onyekwere testified in court on behalf of the petitioner and others without their knowledge or authorization.

The petitioner later engaged a lawyer to approach the Court and have the petitioner’s name struck out of the suit and thereafter filed a petition against the respondents before the LPDC in petition No. BB/LPDC/760/2022.

The petitioner prayed the LPDC to investigate the respondents who are all legal practitioners called to the Nigerian Bar, for misconduct.