Nigerian lawyer suspended over misconduct, corruption, property fraud

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has slammed a five-year suspension on Nigerian lawyer Marcel Chukwuma Udebuani, popularly known as “Agams,” after finding him guilty of multiple counts of professional misconduct, including corruption, misappropriation of client funds, and unauthorized demolition of property.

The disciplinary ruling, delivered under Suit No. BB/LPDC/530/2021, was presided over by Hon. Justice Dr. Ishaq Bello (OFR) and backed unanimously by the panel.

Udebuani was found to have grossly violated his client’s trust, manipulated property dealings for personal gain, and flouted ethical standards binding on members of the legal profession.

The case was brought against him by Ms. Cecilia Okpala, a Nigerian citizen residing in the United Kingdom, who had granted Udebuani power of attorney in 2016 to manage her property located at Plot 96, Katampe Extension in Abuja.

Under the agreement, Udebuani was to handle tenancy matters and collect rent in exchange for a 15% commission.

Between 2017 and 2019, however, he failed to remit rental proceeds, repeatedly blaming tenant defaults and vague legal expenses. In 2019, after Ms. Okpala spent N3.8 million on property renovations, she was informed that a new tenant—Alhaji Abubakar Abdulhameed—would be paying N3 million annually and investing N10 million to add toilet facilities.

Ms. Okpala objected to further modifications but was assured by Udebuani that only minor changes would be made.

To her shock, upon visiting Nigeria in late 2019, she discovered her entire building had been demolished and replaced without her knowledge or consent.

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Further investigation revealed that Udebuani had secretly signed a five-year lease worth N30 million with Abdulhameed, of which he remitted only N2.5 million to Ms. Okpala, failing to account for the remaining N500,000.

Despite repeated requests, Udebuani did not provide any financial documentation or rental records. Ms. Okpala subsequently revoked his power of attorney and filed a petition before the LPDC.

The disciplinary panel—comprising Justice O.O. Daniel-Kalio (OFR), Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, and Attorneys General Dr. Ben Odoh (Ebonyi State) and Fidelis Mnyim (Benue State)—condemned Udebuani’s conduct in strong terms, describing it as “a disgrace to the legal profession.”

They held that he had violated Rules 1, 14(1), and 23(2) of the 2023 Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners.

In a judgment dated June 20, 2025, the LPDC ordered Udebuani to account for all funds collected between 2019 and 2020 within 30 days. His suspension from legal practice is to take immediate effect.

“We find the Respondent, MARCEL DIM-UDEBUANI, ESQ., guilty of infamous conduct in the performance of his legal duties and hereby suspend him from practice for five years,” the committee’s statement read.

The ruling also directed the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to immediately annotate Udebuani’s record with the suspension, and distribute certified copies of the decision to the Nigerian Bar Association, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, heads of all courts, Attorneys-General of the 36 states, and law enforcement authorities.

Meanwhile, Abdulhameed, the tenant at the center of the controversy, has filed a lawsuit at the FCT High Court challenging Ms. Okpala’s effort to reclaim her property and is seeking a renewed five-year lease.

Udebuani is listed as a witness in the case, where he has denied receiving rent or benefitting from the deal—claims that contradict the findings of the LPDC.