The Supreme Court of Nigeria has overturned the five-year suspension imposed on the Attorney General of Imo State, C.O.C. Akaolisa, by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
The decision to lift the ban followed a series of legal proceedings against the LPDC’s ruling, which was initially handed down in July 2021. At the time, the LPDC imposed a five-year suspension on Akaolisa after finding him guilty of misconduct. The committee accused Akaolisa of abusing his position as the Attorney General to intervene in the case of a suspected murderer who was undergoing trial.
In a ruling that has drawn attention nationwide, the Supreme Court found the LPDC’s decision to be flawed. The court, which was led by Justice Mohammed Baba Idris, determined that the case presented by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee against Akaolisa did not hold sufficient legal weight to justify such a severe penalty. The judgment was delivered by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, which unanimously agreed with the appeal put forth by Akaolisa.
Justice Idris, speaking on behalf of the panel, stated: “Having considered the arguments presented by counsel, the court found the appeal of the appellant meritorious, and it is hereby allowed.”
The ruling effectively nullifies the earlier decision of the LPDC, which had suspended Akaolisa from practicing law for five years, following accusations of “infamous conduct.” With the Supreme Court’s intervention, Akaolisa’s professional standing is now restored, and he is once again free to resume his legal duties without the hindrance of the suspension.
