By Titus Eleweke I Thursday, Oct.01, 2026
AWKA Lagos – A fresh question of professional accountability has emerged within Nigeria’s legal community following a petition by law firm SPI-LAW to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) regarding alleged professional misconduct by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
Anambra State-born human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, made this observation in a statement titled, “NO SACRED COWS AT THE BAR: SPI-LAW’S PETITION AGAINST FORMER AGF ABUBAKAR MALAMI AND THE IMPERATIVE OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.”
Ejiofor noted that the petition—which seeks disciplinary scrutiny based on findings in the September 16, 2026, Final Award of an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Tribunal in Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited & Anor v. Federal Government of Nigeria—has triggered renewed calls for the Nigerian legal profession to apply its ethical standards consistently, regardless of a lawyer’s status.
Commenting on the development, Ejiofor expressed concern that despite multiple allegations against Malami since he left office—including claims bordering on criminal conduct and professional misconduct—the professional dimensions of these allegations have not received sufficient attention from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Ejiofor, who holds the traditional title of Dunu-Ezeugosinachi, emphasized that professional discipline must be considered separately from criminal proceedings, as both operate within distinct legal frameworks.
“I do not wish to dwell on the alleged manner in which Malami conducted himself in office, or on the various acts attributed to him which, if established, would be unbecoming of a learned Senior Advocate, much less a holder of the exalted office of Attorney-General of the Federation,” Ejiofor stated.
He nevertheless commended SPI-LAW for taking a significant step toward bringing the professional dimension of the allegations before the appropriate disciplinary authorities.
According to Ejiofor, SPI-LAW’s petition asks the LPDC to examine whether conduct attributed to Malami in the ICC arbitral award constitutes professional misconduct under Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (2023) and Section 11 of the Legal Practitioners Act.
Brought in the public interest pursuant to Rule 4 of the LPDC Rules (2020), the petition urges the disciplinary body to determine if a prima facie case has been established requiring Malami to respond. Ejiofor stressed that the questions raised deserve a thorough examination “without fear or favour.”
The underlying ICC proceedings arose from claims brought by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited and another party against the Federal Government.
The tribunal ultimately dismissed Sunrise Power’s claims and ordered the company and its chairman to reimburse Nigeria $11.82 million in legal fees and $414,125 in arbitration costs.
Reiterating that the disciplinary process is not a substitute for potential criminal prosecution, Ejiofor noted that SPI-LAW itself clarified that the proposed disciplinary proceedings remain distinct from any criminal trial.
However, he argued that the matter should extend beyond the LPDC. He urged the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) and the Body of Benchers to examine the issue where legally appropriate, describing broader professional scrutiny as “profoundly long overdue.”
Citing precedent, Ejiofor recalled a prior instance where the NBA relied on findings from foreign proceedings to petition against a Senior Advocate while the substantive matter was still pending in court. He argued that parallel court proceedings do not preclude professional bodies from addressing disciplinary aspects of a lawyer’s conduct.
“Today, even while that matter is being tried in court, the LPDC, the Body of Senior Advocates, and the Body of Benchers are simultaneously seized of aspects of the same subject. What is good for the goose is good for the gander,” Ejiofor said.
He urged the NBA to broaden its oversight of lawyers who occupy or have occupied prominent political and public offices, ensuring professional obligations are upheld equally across the Bar.
“The fight against unethical conduct within the legal profession, whether involving ordinary lawyers or Senior Advocates, must be comprehensive, principled, and consistent,” Ejiofor said. “In pursuing that objective, there must be no sacred cows.”
