Yahaya Bello
By Abdullahi Abubakar
A Federal High Court in Abuja has recommended two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) – Abdulwahab Mohammed and Adeola Adedipe – to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for investigation and necessary sanctions over alleged professional misconduct.
Mohammed and Adedipe are leading the legal team of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in the alleged N82billion money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite, in ruling on Wednesday, July 17, held that both Senior Advocates, having undertaken to produce their client in court, but failed to do so, acted unprofessionally.
Justice Nwite noted that both lawyers gave undertaking on two occasions to produce Bello in court, but failed to produce their client as promised.
The judge, who said such conduct by the lawyers was disrespectful of the court, however, said he would consider any application they may file for a variation of the ruling and orders made.
In another ruling, Justice Nwite granted the request by Adedipe to withdraw his further participation in the case as a lawyer to the defendant.
