Not long ago, legal luminary, Uche Ihediwa, SAN was suspended by Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) based on a petition by the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr Yakubu Maikyau.
Ihediwa’s offence was that in exercise of his right to freedom of expression as guaranteed in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, at a Conference in Paris, France, voiced out his opposition to certain corrupt practices in the legal profession. Maikyau was of the view that Ihediwa should have ventilated these issues using the internal mechanisms within the profession. Well, lawyers always differ.
In particular, Ihediwa voiced out a request to amend section 197 of the constitution because it allowed governors to interfere with the appointment of judges. This is because the governor nominates 5 out of the 7 man Judicial Service Commission in states. He advocated that the NBA be allowed to appoint 2 members so they can be answerable to her.
To Ihediwa the present system can lead to corruption and NBA cannot withdraw its members. He buttressed his argument with an established report of corruption in the appointing process in Abia state (see Sun newspaper of 1st Nov 2022). The former president of NBA challenged him and later petitioned him for professional misconduct at lppc for failing to report misconduct that came to his knowledge as Att.Gen. In his defence, ihediwa said the complainant did not want the matter prosecuted. Lppc suspended him in July 2023. On 6th Feb. He was recalled
Given Ihediwa’s pedigree as a former Attorney General of Abia state and a disciplined lawyer with a high quotient of integrity, this development came as a surprise to many stakeholders in the profession who hold Ihediwa in high esteem based on his impeccable records and antecedents.
However, in the letter dated 12th of February, 2025, and signed by Hajo Sarki Bello Esq, the secretary of LPPC, the suspension order on Ihediwa has been lifted with effect from 6th february, 2025. The letter read in part that Chief Uche Ihediwa’s suspension was lifted after ”consideration of all material facts.” This is coming under the administration of a brand new NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), who is seen as pursuing an activist policy for the highly respected Nigerian Bar Association.
Ihediwa attended the prestigious Government College Umuahia and later was elected the National president of the Old Boys Association. He not only rendered a meritorious service to the Old Boys Association for several years but, in his usual quiet and philanthropic manner, contributed immensely to the uplifting of infrastructure in the school.
Ihediwa attended the University of Lagos and Nigeria Law School and made a second class upper division in both schools. He also holds a masters degree in law from the University of Lagos (UNILAG)
Many people do not know that Ihediwa, an outstanding sportsman, was a school coloured footballer in most of the schools he attended. His football skills are still a subject of discussion whenever his name is mentioned by those who came across him in some of those schools.
As Ihediwa returns to the Inner Bar as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to do what he loves doing best, one can only wish him God’s speed.
▪️Njoku is a lawyer and the author of the book, ”History of the Legal Profession in Nigeria” published in 2005.
Gatekeepers News is not liable for opinions expressed in this article, they’re strictly the writer’s
