Seventeen legal practitioners have been sanctioned by the Body of Benchers for professional misconduct following the unveiling of the 2025 Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) report at its second annual lecture in Abuja on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
The conference, themed “Body of Benchers: Beyond Call to Bar,” was attended by senior members of the bar and bench, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN; the President of the Court of Appeal; Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); and several Senior Advocates of Nigeria and Life Benchers.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin.
The legal practitioners were found guilty of infamous conduct in the course of the performance of their duties as legal practitioners.
The breakdown of sanctions is as follows:
- Three (3) lawyers had their names struck off the roll of legal practitioners
- Three (3) lawyers were suspended for five years
- Two (2) lawyers were suspended for four years
- Five (5) lawyers were suspended for three years
- Four (4) lawyers were suspended for two years
- One (1) lawyer was given a warning
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) expressed concern over the rise in cases of lawyers involved in financial fraud.
“We have had calls to investigate quite a number of senior members of the bar, found quite a number of them culpable for fencing, reduced from criminal combustion of clients’ money, to enabling money laundering and all sorts,” the EFCC Chairman said.
“Before I came here, I just checked my database and I discovered that we have over a hundred senior members of the bar that we are prosecuting at the moment for those offences. So it has become very necessary for us to work together,” he added.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, in his remarks, raised concerns about the proliferation of law faculties across the country.
“The large number I referred to earlier is a product of every university wanting to read law and wanting to have higher and higher number of students to teach law. And welcome the decision by the federal government to have a freeze on the number of special institution being set up,” Osigwe said.
The NBA President also commended the Body of Benchers and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation for the role they have played in the amendment of the Legal Practitioners Act.
“The honourable attorney general of the federation is presently spearheading the amendment of the Legal Practitioners Act which seems to overhaul the architecture regulating the legal profession in Nigeria,” he noted.
He emphasised the importance of the theme of the lecture, stating: “We should care about their professional development. We should care about their ethical compliance with the rules. We should care how they and those of us who behave and act. And we should care to ensure that we don’t unwittingly give the impression that the practice of the profession of law is one that can be used to aid and abet the commission of crime.”
In her speech, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON, described the Body of Benchers as occupying a place of rare distinction within the architecture of Nigeria’s legal system.
“The Body of Benchers occupies a place of rare distinction within the architecture of our legal system. It is the highest regulatory body for the legal profession in Nigeria. It stands at the confluence of history, honor and responsibility,” Justice Kekere-Ekun said.
She noted that from the earliest foundations of legal practice in Nigeria, traceable to the Supreme Court Ordinance of 1876, the legal profession has evolved through deliberate regulation, principled leadership and enduring commitment to ethical discipline.
“Regulation is the backbone of every enduring profession. Through the solemn rights of call to bar, the body admits qualified persons into a vocation that is both noble and demanding. Yet its responsibilities extend far beyond ceremonial admission. The maintenance of standards, the preservation of discipline, and the protection of the profession’s integrity are continuing obligations that shape public confidence in our justice system,” the CJN stated.
Justice Kekere-Ekun highlighted the digitisation efforts at the Supreme Court.
“From the entrance of the Supreme Court, you would be greeted with biometrics machine used to record staff attendance and the inner workings of the court’s registry have been improved by digitization of receiving and data entry units as well as the exhibits and judgment spacing units of the registry. Also, the notary public unit of the Supreme Court of Nigeria has transitioned from a manual application process to an online application system,” she disclosed.
She also announced that the Supreme Court has now achieved full integration of the enrollment unit with the Nigerian Law School through an online platform for new lawyers.
The CJN commended the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee, noting that its work often unfolds quietly away from public applause, but its impact is profound.
“The Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee operating under the authority of the body carries a weighty mandate. By addressing professional misconduct with fairness and firmness, the LPDC reinforces the values that define our calling. Accountability when administered with due process and impartiality strengthens rather than diminishes the profession,” she said.
Justice Kekere-Ekun described the theme for this year as apt.
“The theme for this year ‘Body of Benchers: Beyond Call to Bar’ is equally apt. It invites us to consider the broader influence of the body in shaping the ethical climate of the profession. Admission to practice law marks the beginning of a lawyer’s journey. Sustaining standards throughout that journey requires vigilance, mentorship, discipline, and example,” she stated.
The 2025 edition of the reports of the directions of the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee was unveiled by the CJN, the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON,, the Vice Chairman of the Body of Benchers, His Royal Majesty Albert Akumuj, SAN, the immediate past Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, the President of the Court of Appeal, the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and the Chairman of the Editorial Board, Chief Ed Dosunmu.
The previous four editions published last year are available for N20,000, while the new direction can be obtained for N10,000.
The editorial board members were commended for their work on the report. Members include Hon. Justice Murala Ali Kanka, Lady Gloria Umoren, Hon. Justice Kazim Aluba, Professor Sylvia Ece, the Attorney General of Anambra State, among others.
In his vote of thanks, the Vice Chairman of the Body of Benchers, His Royal Majesty Albert Akumuj, SAN, appreciated all attendees and particularly commended the keynote speaker, Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN, for his research, delivery and “some radical recommendations to the Body of Benchers.”
He noted that the Chairman of the Body of Benchers assured that the recommendations would be acted upon.
“Like the Chairman of the Body of Benchers said, your recommendations are noted and they will be acted upon,” His Royal Majesty Akumuj said.
He also thanked the CJN for dutifully attending all events of the Body of Benchers despite her busy schedule.
