At least 17 Nigerian lawyers practising across different jurisdictions in the United States have faced serious disciplinary sanctions, including disbarment and suspension, following findings ranging from misappropriation of clients’ funds and dishonesty to practising law while suspended and other breaches of professional rules.
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The disciplinary actions, spanning several years, were imposed by state supreme courts, federal courts, the United States Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, the Board of Immigration Appeals and other professional disciplinary bodies, according to court and regulatory records cited in the report.
Among those named is Alexander Osondu Akpodiete, formerly based in Florida, who faced several disciplinary proceedings arising from misconduct between 2005 and 2008. The infractions included failing to keep a client adequately informed about a case and taking an unauthorised $1,000 from a credit card used by a client to pay legal fees. While already under suspension, Akpodiete was ultimately disbarred by the Florida Supreme Court in 2010.
Taiwo A. Agbaje, who practised in Maryland, was disbarred at both state and federal levels. The Executive Office for Immigration Review announced his disbarment in June 2016 following a final order by the Board of Immigration Appeals, which relied on his earlier disbarment in Maryland. His disciplinary case involved findings of conflict of interest, dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. The Maryland proceedings included a finding that he took $40,000 from a client for a proposed real estate investment in Baltimore.
Texas-based lawyer Cyril O. Chukwurah lost his licence in 2015 after disciplinary authorities found multiple instances of professional misconduct. The violations included practising law while on active suspension, breaching previous disciplinary judgments and failing to properly deliver funds belonging to clients. His previous disciplinary history was also cited when he was barred from practising before the Board of Immigration Appeals, Immigration Courts and the Department of Homeland Security.
Los Angeles-based lawyer and Certified Public Accountant Wilfred I. Aka was disbarred in 2025 by the United States Tax Court and the Board of Immigration Appeals following earlier disciplinary proceedings in 2019 and 2020. The disciplinary findings included failures in duties owed to the court, clients and opposing counsel.
In Colorado, Chuck Odifu Egbune was initially suspended for professional misconduct in 2023 and subsequently disbarred in 2025. According to the disciplinary record cited in the report, Egbune continued practising law while suspended, including representing his sister in court without a valid licence.
Houston-based attorney Uchechi Okechukwu Nwakanma, also known as Prince Nwakanma, was first suspended in 2015 over unpaid professional fees and failure to satisfy continuing legal education requirements. In 2017, he was disbarred from practice before the Board of Immigration Appeals, Immigration Courts and Department of Homeland Security. The Supreme Court of Kansas subsequently upheld the disciplinary consequence.
Chinyere Alex Ogoke, a Chicago-based attorney licensed in 2005, was disbarred in 2021 after continuing to practise while under suspension. He had previously been suspended from appearing before the Board of Immigration Appeals, Immigration Courts and Department of Homeland Security based on an Illinois suspension. Disciplinary authorities found that he subsequently filed notices of appearance for 11 immigration clients and falsely represented that he was not subject to any order restricting his right to practise. The board described the conduct as serious violations capable of undermining the integrity of the legal system.
Minnesota-based lawyer Ignatius Chukwuemeka Udeani had been indefinitely suspended in 2020 before the Minnesota Supreme Court disbarred him in January 2023. The Board of Immigration Appeals subsequently relied on that decision in imposing its own sanction. The underlying findings included failure to adequately protect the interests of clients, including vulnerable immigrants, failure to safeguard or return client funds and unearned legal fees, and failure to cooperate with disciplinary investigations.
John Udo, who was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1995, was disbarred in Massachusetts and excluded from practice before United States immigration tribunals in 2010. His disciplinary proceedings arose from a ten-count petition containing allegations involving client funds, neglect of immigration matters and abandonment of professional responsibilities. Later that year, the Massachusetts Clients’ Security Board reimbursed 14 former clients after findings that funds had been taken, settlement monies were not returned or fees had been accepted without the agreed services being provided.
Houston attorney Emeka M. Uyamadu was permanently disbarred in 2010 after felony convictions in Harris County, Texas, involving witness tampering and theft of between $20,000 and $100,000. He was originally sentenced to 10 years in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The custodial sentence was suspended and he was placed on community supervision for 10 years, fined $5,000 and ordered to spend 60 days in the Harris County Jail.
Owolabi Salis, a US-based lawyer who later became publicly known for travelling to space, was indicted in 2023 and subsequently disbarred by the New York State Supreme Court. According to the report, the disciplinary proceedings followed complaints from clients alleging that they had lost tens of thousands of dollars through his conduct.
Maryland-based attorney Andrew Ndubisi Ucheomumu, who operated offices in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, was disbarred in 2018 by the Maryland Court of Appeals, now known as the Supreme Court of Maryland. His disciplinary record included failures to provide adequate legal representation, failure to refund at least $6,200 in unearned fees and the making of false or misleading statements during proceedings.
Another Houston-area lawyer, Chukwu Uwakwe Oko, was disbarred in 2013 after the 133rd Judicial District Court of Harris County found that he had violated professional rules prohibiting dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation and practising law while a licence was invalid. The Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review subsequently issued a final disciplinary order preventing him from appearing before immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals.
District of Columbia lawyer Lloyd F. Ukwu was disbarred in 2009 by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals following findings that he intentionally misappropriated client funds, forged a client’s signature and made false representations in connection with a settlement. The disciplinary board found that he settled a case without the client’s authority, forged the client’s signature on a settlement cheque and used part of the proceeds for his own purposes.
Los Angeles-based lawyer Anita C. Kanu, also known as Anita C. Justin, was disbarred in 2010 by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Her disciplinary case involved findings of false or misleading statements, failure to return unearned fees and dishonest or fraudulent conduct. The matters arose from promises to refund fees to two immigration clients if she failed to obtain their requested immigration status. Her exclusion from practice before immigration courts and the Department of Homeland Security was subsequently upheld.
Benjamin Ndi, a New York-licensed lawyer who operated in Maryland, was disbarred in 2018 following findings involving unauthorised practice, misrepresentation of his professional qualifications and violations concerning attorney trust accounts. The Supreme Court of Maryland held that he had provided immigration and other legal services in Maryland despite not holding a Maryland licence. He was also found to have failed to cooperate with Bar Counsel’s investigation, respond to discovery requests or appear at scheduled disciplinary proceedings. His exclusion from practice before the immigration courts and Department of Homeland Security was also upheld.
The list also includes Alake Johnson-Ford, a District of Columbia attorney who was disbarred in 2000 over professional misconduct that included misappropriation of client funds, dishonest and criminal conduct, failure to deliver funds to clients and failure to provide competent representation. In 2021, the Board of Immigration Appeals imposed a five-year suspension from practice before immigration tribunals while noting that the earlier District of Columbia disciplinary order remained in effect.
Taken together, the cases span more than two decades and arose from separate proceedings in different US jurisdictions. They do not constitute a single prosecution or coordinated disciplinary exercise. Rather, each lawyer’s sanction arose from an individual case considered by the relevant state, federal or immigration disciplinary authority.
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