Get Guardian on GoogleA legal practitioner, Blessing Agbomhere, has petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) of the Body of Benchers over what he described as alleged breaches of professional ethics by fellow lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju.
In the petition, received by the committee on November 2, 2026, Agbomhere raised concerns about Adeyanju’s public comments concerning senior members of the Nigerian Bar, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The petitioner alleged that some of Adeyanju’s public statements were inconsistent with the standards of professional conduct, restraint and responsibility expected of legal practitioners.
Among the issues raised was a reported February 2026 media interaction in which Adeyanju allegedly made critical remarks about Akpabio and other senior lawyers serving in the National Assembly.
Agbomhere also questioned Adeyanju’s public comments concerning Wike, arguing that lawyers should exercise caution when making allegations against individuals, particularly where such claims have not been established through judicial proceedings.
He maintained that the freedom of lawyers to participate in public discourse and express opinions on matters of national interest should be exercised within the framework of professional ethics.
The petition also referred to Adeyanju’s public interventions in the controversy involving allegations of sexual harassment made against Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Agbomhere questioned what he considered inconsistencies in Adeyanju’s reported public positions on the matter, particularly regarding his initial response to the allegations and subsequent calls for evidence.
He argued that lawyers, especially those who participate actively in public affairs, have a responsibility to ensure that their interventions reflect the standards of fairness, objectivity and professional judgment.
To support his complaint, Agbomhere said he had submitted newspaper publications and video recordings of Adeyanju’s media engagements as exhibits for the committee’s consideration.
He cited Rules 1, 26(1), 26(2) and 27(1) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, contending that the issues raised warranted examination by the disciplinary body.
According to him, the intervention of the LPDC would help reinforce professional standards and ensure that members of the Bar remain conscious of their ethical responsibilities when participating in public debates.
The petitioner consequently asked the committee to investigate the allegations, invite Adeyanju to respond and determine whether his conduct warrants disciplinary action under the applicable professional rules.
The petition represents Agbomhere’s allegations and request for disciplinary intervention. The committee’s consideration of the complaint would provide the appropriate avenue for determining the issues raised.
There was no response from Adeyanju included in the petition details made available for this report.
