The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) of the Body of Benchers has suspended Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Michael Olalekan Olawoyin, for five years after finding him guilty of infamous professional conduct for allegedly selling the same property to multiple parties and failing to deliver title documents. The Committee also directed him to refund ₦13,270,000 to his client, Mr. Emmanuel Oyedele Oyekunle, within 30 days.

The decision, delivered on January 20, 2025, followed the hearing of case number BB/LPDC/461/2021. The panel, chaired by Hon. Justice Dr. Ishaq Bello, OFR, included Hon. Justice O.O. Daniel-Kalio, PJCA, OFR; Hon. Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, Chief Judge of Niger State; Dr. Ben Uruchi Odoh, Attorney-General of Ebonyi State; and Fidelis Mnyim, Esq., Acting Attorney-General of Benue State.

The complaint originated from Mr. Oyekunle, who claimed he was introduced to Olawoyin of Octagon Legal and Consultancy Services, Ketu, Lagos, and was persuaded to purchase a portion of land at No. 22 Bello Street, Ketu, Ikosi, Lagos. Believing the lawyer’s representations, including a Power of Attorney and a Deed of Release from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Oyekunle paid ₦11 million for 226.22 square meters of land between May 23 and June 1, 2020, using the firm’s official bank account. Receipts were issued by the law firm.

Despite full payment, Olawoyin allegedly failed to deliver possession or title documents. Oyekunle later discovered the same property had been sold to a third party for ₦30 million in December 2020. Police investigations reportedly confirmed the sale, and Olawoyin allegedly fled to Germany. The complainant claimed total losses of ₦13.27 million, covering the purchase price, loan interest, survey, agency, and architectural costs.

The LPDC noted that Olawoyin did not file a defence or appear at the hearing despite being duly served. After reviewing the evidence, including contracts, receipts, and communication records, the Committee concluded that Olawoyin’s actions constituted infamous professional misconduct under Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2024.

EMMANUEL-OYEDELE-VS.-MICHAEL-OLALEKAN-OLAWOYIN-ESQ

In its ruling, the LPDC ordered:

  • The suspension of Olawoyin from the Roll of Legal Practitioners for five years.
  • Refund of ₦13,270,000 to Mr. Oyekunle within 30 days.
  • Publication of the decision in the Federal Gazette and a national newspaper as public notice.
  • Notification of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judges of the Federal High Court and state High Courts, Grand Khadis and Presidents of Customary Courts of Appeal, Attorney-General of the Federation, all State Attorneys-General, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Nigerian Bar Association leadership.

The LPDC emphasized that the lawyer’s actions fell below the professional standards expected of legal practitioners and highlighted judicial precedents affirming that even non-client-related misconduct could be deemed infamous.

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