The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, LPPC, has restored former Attorney General of Abia State, General Chief Uche Ihediwaä, to the exalted rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, after absolving him of alleged misconduct.
Ihediwa was Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Abia state during the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu administration, from 2015 to 2023.
On July 1, 2024, he was suspended from using the SAN rank by the LPPC, pending the outcome of some investigations leveled against him by the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN.
The former NBA President had petitioned the then Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the LPPC, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, alleging that Ihediwa had conducted himself in a manner unbecoming of the holder of the rank of a SAN.
Maikyau had alleged that Ihediwa had, during the International Bar Association conference in Paris in 2023, openly declared that the appointment of judges in Abia State was laden with corruption when he served as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state.
But after reviewing the matter, the LPPC, at its 163rd General Meeting, held on February 6, 2025, absolved the former Attorney General of any wrongdoing and restored him to the rank of SAN.
In a statement, the secretary of the LPPC, Mr. Sarki Bello, said the committee, at its 163rd General meeting held on July 1st, 2024, discussed the petition written by the Nigerian Bar Association ,NBA, against Ihediwa extensively and came to the conclusion that Ihediwa did no wrong and had therefore been officially restored to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria with effect from February 6, 2025.
“The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee at its 163rd General Meeting held on the 1st of July, 2024 suspended Chief Uche Ihediwa (SAN) from further use of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria based on a petition received by the LPPC,” the statement reads.
“The LPPC, on the 6th of February, 2025, after consideration of all material facts, resolved to restore Chief Uche C. Ihediwa to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
“Pursuant to the Committee’s decision, Chief Uche Ihediwa is hereby restored to the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria with effect from the 6th of February, 2025. The general public is hereby informed of this decision.”