In a surprise volte face, Imo governor Hope Uzodimma has recalled the attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Cyprian Akaolisa, saying the sack three months ago was in error.
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But it has emerged that Akaolisa’s recall might be meant to stave off embarrassment from his five-year ban by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee over professional misconduct.
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Akaolisa was in June interdicted and suspended for five years by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for professional misconduct.
The governor had on May 12, announced the sacking of 20 members of his cabinet, including Akaolisa.
But in a statement on Monday, the governor said that Akaolisa was never among the commissioners dropped when the executive council was dissolved.
Imo’s information and strategy commissioner Declan Emelumba said an error occurred when the sack of the cabinet was announced to include Akaolisa and was deeply regretted.
A six-man disciplinary committee, headed by Dauda J.B. (SAN) on Friday, July 9, 2021, found Akaolisa guilty of the allegations in a petition against him.
Akaolisa was accused of using his position as attorney-general and justice commissioner to facilitate the bail of a murder suspect, who had been remanded in prison and standing trial since 2013, before Justice Onii Egbunighe of Orlu High Court (2).
The suspect, Paulinus Nwanochie, has been standing trial over the murder of Alphonsus Akuma, all from Orlu LGA.
Akaolisa was also the lawyer to the suspect, before his appointment as attorney-general.
Speaking to The PUNCH Not TheNigerialawyer on Akaolisa’s ban by LPDC, the information Commissioner said that the state government would respond after the channels of appeal on the ban had been exhausted.
Emelumba said, “Our laws are clear on this. An accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The ban had been appealed and the Imo State Government would take a position on it after the channels of appeal on the matter have exhausted.”
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