General Chief Uche Ihediwa, the former Attorney General of Abia State, has been reinstated as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) after being cleared of any wrongdoing by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC).
Ihediwa, who served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Abia State during the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu administration, from 2015 to 2023, was on July 1, 2024, suspended from using the SAN rank by the LPPC, pending the outcome of some investigations against him.
Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, 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.
The NBA president alleged that Ihediwa had, during the International Bar Association conference in Paris in 2023, stated that there was corruption in the appointment of judges in Abia State when he served as the attorney general and commissioner for justice of the state.
However, after a review of 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.
Secretary of the LPPC, Sarki Bello, in a statement, said the committee at its 163rd general meeting held on July 1st, 2024, considered extensively a petition written by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) against Ihediwa.
Bello also confirmed that Ihediwa has been officially restored to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria with effect from February 6, 2025.
The statement read, “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 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).
