A Federal High Court in Abuja has referred two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) – Abdulwahab Mohammed and Adeola Adedipe to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for an investigation and appropriate punishment for alleged professional misconduct.
Mohammed and Adedipe are leading former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s legal team in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) investigation into an alleged N82 billion money laundering accusation.
Justice Emeka Nwite ruled on Wednesday, July 17, that both Senior Advocates acted unprofessionally when they agreed to show their client in court but did not do so.
Judge Nwite observed that although both solicitors promised to bring Bello to court on two separate occasions, they never did.
The judge indicated that the attorneys’ actions were disrespectful of the court, but he also promised to take into account any request they made for a revision of the decision and directives.
In another order, Justice Nwite allowed Adedipe’s request to remove his continued participation in the case as a counsel for the defendant.
Final Thoughts
This decision serves as a reminder that legal practitioners are accountable for their actions and can face consequences for misconduct. The investigation by the LPDC will determine whether the lawyers’ behavior warrants disciplinary action, ensuring that any breach of conduct is appropriately addressed.
Also, the withdrawal of Adedipe from the case might impact the defence strategy for Yahaya Bello. The case’s progress could be affected, depending on how the defence team reorganises and whether new counsel is appointed.
