The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, adjourned the disciplinary proceedings in the case BB/LPDC/489/2021: John Aikpokpo-Martins & Kunle Edun, SAN v. Danladi Umar, following issues related to service of court processes.

During the hearing, the panel discovered that Danladi Umar, the former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), had not been properly served with the originating summons and hearing notice. In response, John Aikpokpo-Martins, who appeared in person, applied for substituted service.

Granting the application, the LPDC directed that Umar be served through advertisement in either Vanguard or Daily Trust newspapers, as well as via his verified WhatsApp number.

The panel subsequently adjourned the matter to April 7, 2025, for hearing.

The complaint arose from a widely condemned assault incident that took place on March 29, 2021, at Banex Plaza, Abuja. According to the petitioners, Danladi Umar, while at the plaza, parked his SUV improperly, prompting 22-year-old security guard Mr. Clement Sargwak to politely request that he repark his vehicle to clear an obstruction.

Rather than comply, Umar allegedly attacked and kicked the security guard in a public display of aggression. His security aides attempted to restrain him, yet he continued the assault. The situation escalated when one of Umar’s aides allegedly slapped the security guard in full view of onlookers. The entire episode was captured on video, which later went viral on social media, sparking nationwide outrage and bringing the legal profession into public ridicule.

Despite the public backlash, Umar reportedly showed no remorse at the scene. The petitioners argued that his conduct was unbecoming of a legal practitioner, violating Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC), 2007. The rule mandates lawyers to uphold professional ethics, the rule of law, and justice, and prohibits behavior that brings disrepute to the legal profession.

Aikpokpo-Martins and Edun urged the LPDC to immediately commence disciplinary action against Umar, emphasizing that his actions were a violation of professional ethics and legal conduct.

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