The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) of the Body of Benchers, Nigeria, will decide the high-profile case against Mr. Danladi Umar, former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
The case, filed under Suit No. BB/LPDC/489/2021, was instituted by John Aikpokpo-Martins, Esq., over allegations of conduct unbecoming of a legal practitioner. The petition relates to an incident that occurred on March 29, 2021, at Banex Plaza, Abuja, where the Respondent allegedly assaulted a security officer following a dispute over parking.
The decision, to be delivered at the Body of Benchers Conference Centre, Abuja, is expected to draw public attention due to Umar’s previous role in the controversial removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Onnoghen.
According to the petition, the Respondent, a lawyer whose name is on the Supreme Court Roll, admitted to the physical assault captured on a viral video marked as Exhibit “A” in the case. The incident, which reportedly caused public outrage and ridicule towards the legal profession, forms the basis of the petition.
Counsel for the Applicant, Clement Ugo Chukwuemeka, Esq., and team argued that the Respondent’s actions contravened Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC, 2023), which requires lawyers to uphold high standards of professionalism, civility, and integrity. They further submitted that the Respondent’s admitted conduct falls squarely within the disciplinary jurisdiction of the LPDC.
The petition also stresses that the Respondent’s arguments and exhibits submitted in his defense were irrelevant to the petition before the Committee, and that the facts admitted by the Respondent leave no doubt regarding his culpability.
If found guilty, the Respondent could face sanctions ranging from fines and suspension to disbarment. The LPDC has emphasized that all legal practitioners are bound to maintain public trust and that disciplinary proceedings serve as a crucial mechanism to preserve the profession’s integrity.
