The Supreme Court of Nigeria,has set aside the conviction of three senior lawyers over an alleged professional misconduct
The embattled lawyers,were banned Mamman Waziri, Olayori Muideen and Dr Osaretin George Izegbuwa, by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPPDC) over various allegation of misconduct in the discharge of their professional duties.
In a unanimous judgement, Justice Ejembi held that the actions of the LPPDC panels which led to the disciplinary measures against the three lawyers were not consistent with provisions of the law.
Justice Eko faulted the conviction of the lawyers on various grounds mainly on the composition of the panels.
It was found out that some of the panel members who endorsed the verdict against the lawyers were found not to have participated in the whole proceedings as required by law.
He observed that the composition of the LPPDC panels were too many and counselled that a panel should not have more than three or four members to ensure proper attendance.
He ordered that the three lawyers be made to face different panels to be constituted by the LPPDC.
In separate judgments, the apex court panels voided and set aside the punitive measures handed down on the lawyers having been done in violation of provisions of laws guiding disciplinary issues.
