Human Rights Lawyer Allegedly Disbarred in Nigeria, Threatens to Sue Vanguard Newspapers for Defamation of Character

Harvard University trained Nigerian Lawyer, Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye was yesterday disbarred in Nigeria on the directions of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee. According to a sketchy direction issued by the J.S Okutepa, SAN, acting as the Chief Prosecutor of the Nigerian Bar Association, to the Supreme Court of Nigeria's Chief Registrar, Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye's name should forthwith be struck off from the "rolls" of lawyers following the decision of the body that he is liable for professional misconduct. 

The direction is a culmination of a year long hearing that began in 2016 following the release of a list published by LPDC Secretary, H.A Turaki. According to the very limited information available to the press, the direction was based on an allegation that Emeka failed to disclose his personal interest in a property he was retained to obtain a letter of administration for.  A lawyer is required by virtue of Rule 17(1) of the Nigeria's Rules of Professional Conduct of Legal Practitioner, 2007 to disclose any personal interest in a subject matter for which he is retained to the client at the time of the retainer.

Sponsored Link

 17 (1) "A lawyer shall, at the time of the retainer disclose to the client all the circumstances of his relations with the parties, and any interest in or connection with the controversy which might influence the client in the selection of the lawyer."

Mr. Ugwuonye has 28 days to appeal the direction. It is not yet known whether the decision is politically motivated given Ugwuonye's human rights activism. He is the convener of the Due Process Advocates, a group that works towards the protection of the fundamental human rights of all Nigerians and protection from police harassment and brutality. Ugwuonye is also part of Nnamdi Kanu's (the acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra) legal team.

While the news of Emeka Ugwuonye's disbarment hits the press, it has been alleged by some Nigeria's media organizations, including Sahara Reporters and Vanguard Nigeria, that the human rights lawyer was barred from practicing law in Maryland and New York since 2013, and that this led to his relocation to Nigeria.  This claim has however been denied by the troubled lawyer, who has threatened to sue Vanguard Nigeria for defamation if it does not retract the statement with apologies. According to the lawyer;  

“What will it cost them to take their phones and call New York or Maryland Bars or the US Supreme Court and simply ask: ‘What is the status of Ephraim C. Ugwuonye?’. It is public information. They will give it to you and the name of the person you spoke to. Why can’t they do that? Why do they prefer false rumors?”

 “Tomorrow morning, I shall give them the requisite statutory notice and demand for retraction and apology. Failure to comply will force me to initiate a defamation lawsuit against them,” he added.