Court Declares Gadzama’s Three-Year Suspension Unconstitutional

Federal High Court bars enforcement and publication of disciplinary decision against senior lawyer

The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared unconstitutional the enforcement of a three-year suspension imposed on Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joe-Kyari Gadzama, by the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

In a judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, the court also barred the implementation, publication, transmission or enforcement of the disciplinary decision against the senior lawyer.

The ruling followed a legal challenge brought by Gadzama against the LPDC’s decision to suspend him from practising law for three years.

Court cites absence of effective appeal mechanism

According to the judgment, the court held that enforcing the LPDC’s decision against Gadzama in the absence of an effective appellate mechanism was inconsistent with relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

The court therefore declared the enforcement of the disciplinary direction unconstitutional and unlawful.

The judgment also stated that the LPDC lacked jurisdiction in the matter, according to a statement from Gadzama’s legal team reported by Premium Times.

The court further restrained the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court from making or causing any disciplinary notation against Gadzama based on the LPDC decision.

It also prohibited the publication or dissemination of the LPDC direction as a final disciplinary determination against him.

How the dispute started

The disciplinary case was connected to a long-running dispute over the administration and distribution of compensation arising from litigation relating to the Zaki-Biam massacre.

The LPDC issued its disciplinary direction on July 29, 2026, following a complaint filed by lawyer Chris Alashi against Ocha Ulegede and another person.

Gadzama became involved in the dispute in 2015. He maintained that he had not had a professional relationship with Alashi and had not received instructions from him.

According to Gadzama, he was separately instructed by some of the judgment creditors involved in the matter.

The dispute involved competing claims over legal representation and professional fees connected to an ₦8 billion settlement, against an original judgment of ₦41.8 billion.

LPDC imposed three-year suspension

Following its disciplinary proceedings, the LPDC directed that Gadzama be suspended from legal practice for three years.

The committee also imposed a two-year suspension on Ocha Ulegede.

The disciplinary proceedings included allegations concerning client representation, the handling of documents and Gadzama’s conduct in relation to the litigation.

Gadzama challenged the findings and subsequently approached the Federal High Court seeking judicial review of the disciplinary direction.

His lawyers argued, among other things, that there was no effective statutory mechanism through which he could appeal the LPDC’s decision.

They also challenged findings concerning an allegedly forged document and disputed the committee’s conclusions regarding his alleged conduct in the case.

Court sets aside enforcement

In its latest judgment, the Federal High Court granted reliefs sought by Gadzama and ruled against enforcement of the LPDC’s disciplinary direction as it affected him.

The court’s decision means the three-year suspension cannot be implemented or treated as a final disciplinary determination against the senior lawyer under the terms of the judgment.

The ruling represents a significant development in the legal dispute and places the LPDC’s disciplinary decision under the scrutiny of the court.

The case has attracted attention within Nigeria’s legal community because it concerns the disciplinary powers exercised over legal practitioners and the availability of effective mechanisms for challenging such decisions.

For now, the Federal High Court’s order prevents the relevant authorities from enforcing or publishing the LPDC’s decision against Gadzama in the manner prohibited by the judgment.

VIBNEXA MEDIA — The Pulse For What’s Next.