The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has found Cyprian Obiora Ifeanyi Agwuna, Esq., a lawyer called to the Bar in 1983, guilty of infamous conduct in the course of performing his duties as a legal practitioner for using derogatory language against an Anambra Chief Magistrate, Sumi Ijeamaka Anagbogu.

The Committee has directed that Agwuna be suspended from the Roll of Legal Practitioners and from engaging in the practice of law for a period of 24 months, effective from February 20, 2024.

The case against Agwuna was brought before the LPDC by Peter Okoye Nwankwo, the nominal complainant in a criminal trial where Agwuna was representing the defendants. Nwankwo alleged that Agwuna employed dilatory tactics to prolong the hearing and determination of the criminal trial, which he considered unethical and unprofessional.

The Committee found that Agwuna had authored a letter to the Chief Judge of Anambra State, copied to the presiding Magistrate, in which he used derogatory and insulting language to describe the Magistrate. The letter accused the Magistrate of being financially compromised by the complainant, shamelessly telling lies, and not understanding legal implications.

While the Committee noted that a lawyer has the liberty to handle a case in the best interest of their client, it emphasized that the Bar must always accord due respect to the Bench. The Committee found Agwuna’s language in the letter to be demeaning to the Magistrate and in gross violation of Rule 31 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2007.

The Committee held that if Agwuna had a proper ground for complaint against the Magistrate, he should have made his complaint to the appropriate authorities, such as the Anambra State Judicial Service Commission, rather than insulting and disrespecting the judicial officer.

Consequently, the LPDC found Agwuna guilty of breaching the provisions of Rule 31 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2007, and directed that he be suspended from practicing law for 24 months. The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court has been directed to effect the suspension order and make a notation of the direction against Agwuna’s name on the Roll of Legal Practitioners.

The Committee further ordered that notice of the direction be given to Agwuna, published in the Punch Newspaper and the Federal Gazette, and served on various legal and law enforcement authorities, including the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and the Inspector General of Police.

The case highlights the importance of legal practitioners maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct and treating the Court with respect and dignity, regardless of any disagreements or grievances they may have with judicial officers.

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