Nigerian Senior Advocate Gadzama Appeals Three-Year Suspension to Supreme Court

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) suspended Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Joe-Kyari Gadzama from legal practice for three years on July 29, 2026, following a disciplinary complaint filed by lawyer Chris Alash. The committee also suspended lawyer Ocha Ulegede for two years. Both were found to have breached 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, which take effect from the date of judgment.

Gadzama has rejected the LPDC's decision and announced he will immediately appeal to the Supreme Court, the body with appellate jurisdiction over LPDC decisions. He stated that the committee's findings were not supported by evidence or applicable law. Gadzama claimed that under Section 11(8)(a) of the Legal Practitioners Act, filing an appeal within the prescribed timeframe prevents the suspension from taking effect pending the appeal's determination, meaning his right to practise remains unaffected during the legal process.

The disciplinary proceedings arose from Complaint No. BB/LPDC/1314/2024, in which Alash accused Gadzama and Ulegede of professional misconduct. Specifically, Alash alleged that Gadzama improperly took over another lawyer's brief, solicited clients, and wrongfully appropriated professional fees. Gadzama disputed all allegations, stating he was directly retained by judgment creditors through written letters of instruction and acted strictly in accordance with that professional engagement.

The dispute centers on the handling of compensation for victims and survivors of the October 2001 Zaki Biam military operation in Benue State. During that operation, which followed the discovery of 19 slain soldiers in Zaki Biam, Nigerian troops invaded several border communities, killing over 200 villagers and destroying property. Victims and survivors sued the federal government at the Federal High Court in Enugu. In July 2007, Justice Lewis Allagoa awarded N41.8 billion in compensation to the plaintiffs. After the federal government appealed, negotiations led to an out-of-court settlement of N8 billion. Disputes over how this compensation would be distributed and managed between the lawyers representing the judgment creditors reportedly triggered the disciplinary complaint.