The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a petition filed against them by Dr. Uche Nwobodo-Uche, deeming the complaint to be without merit and driven by malicious intent.
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The unanimous decision, delivered on June 3, 2024, by a five-member panel chaired by Hon. Justice (Dr.) Ishaq Bello, OFR, FNIALS, exonerated Nwaozichi Ikechukwu Godswill Esq and Maxwell I. Chukwuemeka Esq of any professional misconduct.
The petitioner, Dr. Uche Nwobodo-Uche, had alleged that the respondents, who were representing his estranged wife, Mrs. Chinwe Vivian Uche, in a divorce proceeding, had led their client and thugs to his residence on December 11, 2020, forcefully gaining entrance and engaging in violent behavior. However, the LPDC found that the petitioner failed to substantiate these claims with credible evidence.
During the proceedings, the respondents maintained that they had merely responded to a distress call from their client, who had informed them that she was locked out of the disputed property by the petitioner. The Committee determined that the respondents’ presence at the scene, upon the invitation of their client and at the prompting of the petitioner himself, was justified under the exception to Rule 22 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
The LPDC also noted that the respondents’ version of events was more credible and believable, as supported by unchallenged affidavit evidence. In contrast, the petitioner’s narrative was found to be inconsistent and lacking in credibility. The Committee concluded that the petitioner had deliberately sworn to a false account of the events in an attempt to mislead the panel.
Furthermore, the LPDC viewed the petition as a malicious and vindictive attempt to harass, embarrass, and intimidate the respondents in their professional capacity. The Committee emphasized the importance of discouraging such malicious petition writing, as it could be used to target innocent and diligent legal practitioners.
In its ruling, the LPDC ordered the petitioner to pay costs of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) to each of the respondents as compensation for the inconvenience and distress caused by the baseless allegations. Additionally, the Committee referred the petitioner’s conduct in swearing to false affidavit evidence to the Attorney-General of the Federation for necessary action regarding perjury.
The LPDC’s decision serves as a strong message to those who might seek to abuse the Committee’s disciplinary process to settle personal scores or tarnish the reputation of legal practitioners. It also highlights the importance of adhering to the ethics and rules of the legal profession, as well as the need for legal practitioners to maintain the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in their dealings with clients and the public.
The respondents, Nwaozichi Ikechukwu Godswill Esq and Maxwell I. Chukwuemeka Esq, expressed their satisfaction with the outcome of the case, stating that justice had been served. They reiterated their commitment to upholding the ethics and values of the legal profession and providing quality legal services to their clients.
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