Supreme Court Vacates 5-Year Suspension From Law Practice on Former Imo State Attorney General

The Supreme Court has lifted a five-year suspension imposed on a former Imo State Attorney General, COC Akolisa, by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

The July 2021 imposition of the suspension has been revoked in a series of suits challenging the decision by the committee.

Akolisa was initially suspended from the practice of law for five years by a six-member panel of the LPDC on allegations of misconduct.

The committee charged him with abusing his office as Attorney General to secure the release of an alleged murderer who was on trial.

But, in a unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court ruled that the decision of the LPDC was tainted and set it aside. The apex court’s five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Baba Idris, delivered the judgment in Akolisa’s favour, allowed his appeal, and reinstated his right to practice law.

In his judgment, Justice Idris ruled, “Having considered the arguments of counsel, the court found the appeal by the appellant to be meritorious and hereby grant it. The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee’s decision of July 9, 2021, finding the appellant guilty of scandalous conduct and suspending him from practice for five years, is hereby set aside.”

The ruling is a big victory for Akolisa, who had all along professed innocence against any misdoings in the ordeal.