Former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Elder Achuba Ojochide Simon, has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) praying them to constitute a disciplinary panel to investigate J.B. Daudu, SAN, and his law firm for alleged unprofessional conduct and abuse of judicial powers.
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Achuba also prayed the CJN and the LPDC for “an order striking out the Respondent (J.B. Daudu SAN)’s name from the roll of lawyers or an order restraining the Respondent from practicing law for a specific period of time.”
The petitioner made copies of the two separate petitions available to journalists in Abuja, according to sleeknews report.
According to him, his grievance emanated from attempts by the law firm of J.B. Daudu SAN to frustrate the enforcement of N1,070,860,138.00 judgments of the Industrial Court and Court of Appeal that was given in his favour in the Suit No. NICN/ABJ/244/2019 Between Elder Achuba Ojochide Simon V Governor of Kogi State & Others.
“I wrote this petition personally as the victim of what I believe to be a frivolous and malicious appeal filed by the law firm of J.B. Daudu, SAN & Co. at Supreme Court in labour-related matters contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, that prohibited it,” Achuba stated.
He said in the petition sent to the Chairman of LPDC, dated December 9, 2025, that the appeal was maliciously instituted solely to prevent him from enjoying the fruits of judgment lawfully delivered in his favour by the Court of Appeal, which has a final say in labour-related matters that originated from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
The petitioner stated that the defendants in the suit, through the J.B. Daudu SAN law firm, appealed the lower court judgment before the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/30/2021 Between The Governor of Kogi State & Anor V Elder Achuba Simon, and a judgment was delivered in his favour by the Court of Appeal on April 29, 2024.
The court ruled that he was entitled to claim monthly salaries, travel allowances and other statutory allocations except for monthly imprest.
The petitioner stated that a computation of salaries, traveling allowances and statutory allocations due to him in 2017 and 2018 budget of Kogi State amounted to N1,070,860,138.00, and a letter was sent to Kogi State Government to this effect, but the state government refused to pay and denied owing him.
He said he was left with no other choice than to file a motion for the enforcement of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/1053MI/24 Between Elder Achuba Simon VS The Governor of Kogi State & Anor.
In a well-considered ruling delivered on April 25, 2025, the court granted his reliefs and directed the National Industrial Court to enforce the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
To his surprise and dismay, the petitioner stated, the law firm of J.B. Daudu SAN filed an appeal against the ruling of Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court. The firm also filed a stay of execution against the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/630MI/2025 before the Court of Appeal, which was dismissed.
The Court of Appeal cautioned: “I am really surprised and disappointed in the 2nd Applicant, the Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Kogi State, a legal practitioner called to Nigerian Bar expected to hold the sanctity of the provisions of the Constitution does not see anything wrong in the way and manner they are holding this matter. It is therefore my view that our courts should remain steadfast to the Constitution of this Country and shut down attitudes of parties which will lead to absurdity in our judicial system.”
The petitioner said that despite the fact that Court of Appeal imposed a fine of Three Million Naira (N3,000,000.00) on J.B. Daudu & Co and the admonition of the justices of the Court of Appeal in this matter, the law firm continued to pursue the appeal in contravention of Rules 14(1), (2)(e), 15(1), 15(2)(a) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007.
The Court of Appeal reaffirmed its statutory powers as the last appellate court on this matter and stated in its ruling on stay of execution: “My Lords, no rigmarole of any sort will save the applicants here. I mean no manipulated legal argument will amend the provisions of section 243(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the whims and caprices of the Applicants to enable them have a right to appeal with respect to final decisions of this court on labour-related matters.”
The petitioner also complained about desperation to deceive, confuse and mislead the National Industrial Court by one Loveth Ali, a female litigation clerk from J.B. Daudu & Co, who allegedly misinformed the court that the matter in the Supreme Court was slated for hearing on November 3, 2025, and supported this false claim with an affidavit when in fact she knew the Supreme Court didn’t fix such a date and didn’t sit.
Simon said that in furtherance of desperation to mislead the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, the law firm orchestrated a franked hearing date of the frivolous appeal filed at the Supreme Court alongside one Paul Bawa Ajiake of the Litigation Department at the issuance of date when issues were not joined. The petitioner attached the hearing notice and text message from Paul Bawa Ajiake as exhibit to demonstrate foul play.
“I have a case before the Supreme Court brought by Kogi State Government since 2024. It is a constitutional matter that borders on impeachment. My lawyer (Egwaba Reuben & Co) on 18/8/2025 wrote to your Lordship asking for a date, yet till date, we have not received any response,” he stated.
“How come that a case that should not ordinarily be taken by the registrar takes precedence over constitutional matters like impeachment? Paul Bawa Ajiake needs to give account on how he came about the hearing date. I suspect a foul play against order and sequence,” the petitioner lamented.
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