LPDC suspends another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Gadzama
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, has suspended another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Joe-Kyari Gadzama, from legal practice.
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, has suspended another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Joe-Kyari Gadzama, from legal practice.
Gadzama was suspended for three years over the case involving victims of the Zaki Biam killings in Benue State.
The senior lawyer was suspended alongside another junior lawyer, Ocha Ulegede, a lawyer, who was suspended from two-year legal practice over same case, following a petition, marked: BB/LPDC/1314/2024, filed by another lawyer, Chris Alash.
The senior lawyer was suspended alongside another junior lawyer, Ocha Ulegede, a lawyer, who was suspended from two-year legal practice over same case, following a petition, marked: BB/LPDC/1314/2024, filed by another lawyer, Chris Alash.
Gadzama, has however rejected his suspension for three years by the LPDC, saying he has instructed his team of lawyers to appeal against the verdict immediately
The verdict on the petition was delivered by the LPDC on Wednesday
The verdict on the petition was delivered by the LPDC on Wednesday
The committee found both Gadzama Ulegede liable for breaching various provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023.
The LPDC directed that all heads of superior courts of record in Nigeria be notified of the suspensions with effect from the date of judgment.
In October 2001, over 200 villagers were killed after soldiers invaded several communities in and around the Zaki Biam area of Benue State.
The troops destroyed multiple properties during the invasion, following the massacre of 19 soldiers whose corpses were discovered in Zaki Biam.
Subsequently, some victims and survivors instituted legal action against the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Enugu, seeking compensation for the deaths, destruction of property, and violations of their fundamental rights.
In July 2007, Justice Lewis Allagoa awarded the plaintiffs N41.8 billion as compensation against the Federal Government.
Not pleased with the judgement, the Federal Government approached the Court of Appeal before entering into negotiations with the plaintiffs to settle the matter out of court.
The Federal Government and the plaintiffs reportedly agreed on the sum of N8 billion, but the controversy began after reports that the compensation would be paid to the Benue State Government under the then Governor Gabriel Torwua Suswan 's administration in the state between 2007 and 2015.
In February 2015, two senior lawyers: Itsay Sagay and Mike Ozekhome, warned the Federal Government against paying the N8 billion Zaki Biam massacre victims’ funds to the government of Suswam’s administration.
‘Allegations against me unfounded’
Gadzama in a statement later stated that the “complaint against me alleged that I improperly took over another lawyer’s brief, solicited clients and wrongfully appropriated professional fees,” adding that the allegations were “unfounded.” According to Gadzama, the judgment creditors sought his legal services via “written letters of instruction,” noting that he had instructed his legal team to file an appeal immediately.
His words, “I have been informed that the Committee found against me and directed that I be suspended from legal practice for a period of three years.
“While I am yet to receive or review the certified true copy of the direction, I have instructed my legal team to file an immediate appeal.
“I wish to reassure my clients, colleagues, friends and the general public that, upon the filing of the appeal within the time prescribed by law, my right to practise as a legal practitioner remains unaffected pending the final determination of the appeal, in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act.
“The complaint against me alleged that I improperly took over another lawyer’s brief, solicited clients and wrongfully appropriated professional fees.
“Those allegations are, with respect, unfounded.
“I was retained directly by the Judgment Creditors through written letters of instruction and acted throughout strictly in accordance with that professional retainer.
“In my respectful view, the documentary evidence before the Committee does not support the findings made against me.”
The LPDC directed that all heads of superior courts of record in Nigeria be notified of the suspensions with effect from the date of judgment.
In October 2001, over 200 villagers were killed after soldiers invaded several communities in and around the Zaki Biam area of Benue State.
The troops destroyed multiple properties during the invasion, following the massacre of 19 soldiers whose corpses were discovered in Zaki Biam.
Subsequently, some victims and survivors instituted legal action against the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Enugu, seeking compensation for the deaths, destruction of property, and violations of their fundamental rights.
In July 2007, Justice Lewis Allagoa awarded the plaintiffs N41.8 billion as compensation against the Federal Government.
Not pleased with the judgement, the Federal Government approached the Court of Appeal before entering into negotiations with the plaintiffs to settle the matter out of court.
The Federal Government and the plaintiffs reportedly agreed on the sum of N8 billion, but the controversy began after reports that the compensation would be paid to the Benue State Government under the then Governor Gabriel Torwua Suswan 's administration in the state between 2007 and 2015.
In February 2015, two senior lawyers: Itsay Sagay and Mike Ozekhome, warned the Federal Government against paying the N8 billion Zaki Biam massacre victims’ funds to the government of Suswam’s administration.
‘Allegations against me unfounded’
Gadzama in a statement later stated that the “complaint against me alleged that I improperly took over another lawyer’s brief, solicited clients and wrongfully appropriated professional fees,” adding that the allegations were “unfounded.” According to Gadzama, the judgment creditors sought his legal services via “written letters of instruction,” noting that he had instructed his legal team to file an appeal immediately.
His words, “I have been informed that the Committee found against me and directed that I be suspended from legal practice for a period of three years.
“While I am yet to receive or review the certified true copy of the direction, I have instructed my legal team to file an immediate appeal.
“I wish to reassure my clients, colleagues, friends and the general public that, upon the filing of the appeal within the time prescribed by law, my right to practise as a legal practitioner remains unaffected pending the final determination of the appeal, in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act.
“The complaint against me alleged that I improperly took over another lawyer’s brief, solicited clients and wrongfully appropriated professional fees.
“Those allegations are, with respect, unfounded.
“I was retained directly by the Judgment Creditors through written letters of instruction and acted throughout strictly in accordance with that professional retainer.
“In my respectful view, the documentary evidence before the Committee does not support the findings made against me.”
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