Chief Joe Kyari Gadzama, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and another lawyer, Ocha Ulegede, have been suspended for three years and two years respectively, from law practice by the Legal Practitioners and Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
Their suspension is linked to the handling of the Zaki Biam compensation case.
Moreover, the disciplinary action followed a petition lodged by legal practitioner, Chris Alashi, prompting the committee to probe the conduct of the two lawyers in relation to the disputed settlement of compensation awarded to victims of the 2001 Zaki Biam military operation.
The complaints that led to their suspension arose from a petition, number BB/LPDC/1314/2024.
The LPDC suspended the duo over their roles in the case, which was deemed misconduct.
Justice Halima Ibrahim, who delivered the judgment of the committee, asked the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to communicate the ruling to the appropriate bodies.
The committee found Gadzama and Ulegede liable for breaching various provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023.
The committee said the suspensions take effect from the date of judgment.
Zaki Biam Massacre
In October 2001, over 200 villagers were massacred after soldiers stormed several communities in and around the Zaki Biam area of Benue state.
The troops destroyed many properties during the raid.
The invasion was retaliation for the corpses of 19 soldiers killed in Zaki Biam.
Some victims and survivors instituted legal action against the federal government at the federal high court in Enugu.
The victims sought compensation for the deaths, destruction of property and violations of their fundamental rights.
In July 2007, Lewis Allagoa, the judge, awarded the plaintiffs N41.8 billion as compensation against the federal government.
Not satisfied with the judgement, the federal government approached the court of appeal.
However, the federal government entered into negotiations with the plaintiffs to settle the case out of court.
The federal government and the plaintiffs reportedly agreed on the sum of N8 billion.
The controversy began after reports that the compensation will be paid to the Benue state government under the then administration of Gabriel Suswam.
In February 2015, two senior lawyers, Itsay Sagay and Mike Ozekhome warned the federal government against paying the N8 billion Zaki Biam massacre victims’ funds to Suswam’s government.
