NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION FIXES 12TH JANUARY, 2021, FOR HEARING BETWEEN Mr. CHUKWUNENYE NWEKE AND U.S. EKPO ESQ

By Chukwuma Onyeuka

The Legal Disciplinary Committee ( LPDC) of the Nigerian Bar Association has fixed Tuesday 12th January, 2021, time; 1:00pm- 3:30pm for hearing of the petition addressed to the chairman of the committee by the Applicant, CHUKWUNENYE Nweke against the Respondent , U. S. Ekpo Esq. of Legal Office, Zone 9 Police Headquarters.

In an advert published in page 22 of today’s ,Thursday 17th December, 2020, Punch Newspapers by the LPDC, the matter between Mr. Chukwunenye Nweke and U. S. Ekpo Esq with the reference no; BB/ LPDC/274/2020 , will be heard on the above mentioned date at the Court of Appeal Headquarters, Three Arms Zone ,Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja.

The newspaper print says,” TAKE NOTICE that the below listed petitions would be coming up for hearing on the 11th January, 2021 to 22nd January, 2021.

In the event that you fail to attend, the committee may hear and determine the petition in your absence, and make necessary Orders in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act.

Tuesday, 12th January,2021, Time: 1PM- 3:30PM, For Hearing, BB/ LPDC/ 272/2020, MR. CHUKWUNENYE NWEKE VS U.S. EKPO ESQ.

NOTE: THE CASES FOR TUESDAY ,12TH JANUARY,2021 , WILL CONTINUE ON WEDNESDAY ,13TH JANUARY, 2021, AND SHALL THEREAFTER CONTINUE FROM DAY TO DAY UNTIL FRIDAY, 15TH JANUARY, 2021, EXCEPT AS MAY OTHERWISE BE DIRECTED BY THE COMMITTEE “.

Unquote, Mr.Chukwunenye Nweke was charged to court on 31st January, 2019 by AIG Zone 9 Umuahia. The matter was assigned to U.S. Ekpo Esq. for prosecution at Chief Magistrate Court2 ,Awka.

After due registration of the police charge, the prosecution Lawyer,U. S. Ekpo has deliberately refused to grant Mr. Nweke access to requisite documents to prepare his defence against the charge.

Nweke through his lawyer, S.I. Obinwa Esq had made both oral and written applications to court to ask police to release all documents to the defendant, Chukwunenye Nweke but U. S. Ekpo Esq has continued to entreat the court order with lack of respect for rule of law and human rights.
Angered by the conduct of U. S. Ekpo, Mr. Nweke dragged him to LPDC, appealing to LPDC to investigate U. S. Ekpo Esq and recommend appropriate punishment for him.

In its response, LPDC served U.S. Ekpo Esq with a copy of Nweke’s Originating Summon. The Summon was received on Monday 14th January, 2021 by OC Legal on behalf on U. S. Ekpo . The committee gave U. S. Ekpo 24hrs to react to the affidavit of facts attached to the petition addressed to the chairman of the committee by Nweke. The committee fixed Tuesday 12th January, 2021 for hearing.

Photos: Hard copies of the Punch Newspaper print by LPDC dated this day ,Thursday 17th December, 2029