Suspended UNICAL Dean Alleges ICPC Lawyer Not Registered to Practice

The suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, has alleged that the lawyer representing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is not registered to practice law in Nigeria.

Ndifon, who is currently standing trial on four amended counts of alleged sexual harassment and gratification, claims that the ICPC’s lawyer, Dr. Osuobeni Akponimisingha, does not have his name on the roll of legal practitioners in the country, as required by Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act.

The motion on notice filed on behalf of the suspended Dean by his lawyer, Joe Agi, also alleges that the amended charge in the case is incompetent and should be struck out, as it was preferred by a person whose name is not on the roll of legal practitioners.

Furthermore, the defendants have urged the court to refer both Osuobeni Akponimisingha and the other prosecution counsel, Joshua Alobo, to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for allegedly misrepresenting themselves by using the titles ‘Dr.’ and ‘Professor’ without the necessary academic qualifications.

In the motion, Ndifon’s legal team also requested an order of the court to strike out the amended charge against them, as it is incompetent and was preferred by a person whose name is not on the roll of legal practitioners, thus robbing the court of its jurisdiction.

As the case unfolds, it raises questions about the ICPC’s choice of legal representation and the potential implications for the prosecution’s case against the suspended UNICAL Dean.

The allegations also highlight the importance of ensuring that legal practitioners are properly registered and qualified to practice law in Nigeria.