Human rights lawyer and activist, Abdul Mahmud, has faulted the decision of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) to suspend Chief Mike Ozekhome from the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), arguing that the move undermines the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence.
Mahmud, in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page, expressed concern over the LPPC’s decision to suspend Ozekhome pending the determination of disciplinary proceedings against him, warning that the action could create the impression that allegations alone are sufficient grounds for punishment.
The LPPC had announced Ozekhome’s suspension as an interim measure while disciplinary proceedings against the senior lawyer are ongoing.
Reacting to the development, Mahmud said the legal profession must be careful not to blur the distinction between accusation and guilt.
“The suspension of Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN before the determination of the allegations against him deserves serious criticism because it appears to unsettle a foundational legal principle: a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he stated.
According to him, while the LPPC may be seeking to preserve the integrity and prestige of the SAN rank, such objectives should not be pursued in a manner that suggests an individual has already been found culpable before the conclusion of due process.
He argued that suspending the privileges attached to the rank while proceedings remain unresolved risks turning allegations into punishment.
“The legal profession, more than any other, ought to resist the temptation to equate allegations with culpability,” Mahmud said.
Drawing a comparison with the case of Dr Joseph Nwobike, SAN, Mahmud noted that disciplinary action against Nwobike followed his arraignment, trial and conviction by a court of law.
According to him, that sequence reinforced public confidence that professional sanctions were based on established findings of guilt rather than mere accusations.
“By contrast, in Ozekhome’s case, the suspension has come while matters remain pending and before guilt has been established,” he observed.
Mahmud further called on the LPPC to clearly define any new disciplinary standards being applied to holders of the SAN rank and ensure that such standards are implemented consistently across the board.
He warned that any perception of selective treatment could undermine public confidence in the legal profession and the institutions responsible for regulating it.
The comments have added a new dimension to the debate surrounding the LPPC’s decision, with legal observers closely watching how the disciplinary proceedings against Ozekhome will unfold and what implications they may have for the regulation of Nigeria’s senior legal practitioners.
