Bar Everestus Ugwuowo Suspended from Legal Practice for Five Years Over N29m Property Scam
An Abuja-based lawyer, Everestus Chinedum Ugwuowo, has been suspended from legal practice for five years by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for professional misconduct involving a N29 million property scam. The decision, delivered on June 20, 2025, follows a petition of “Infamous Conduct” filed against him by Grace Dauda.
The LPDC panel, led by Justice Ishaq Bello, former Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, found Ugwuowo guilty of collecting N29 million from Ms. Dauda in 2017 for the sale of a four-bedroom property in Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja. Crucially, Ugwuowo did not have the authority of the property owner to sell the house and failed to refund the money to Ms. Dauda despite repeated demands over eight years.
According to the LPDC’s findings, Ms. Dauda, relying on Ugwuowo’s status as a legal practitioner with over 15 years of experience and a Notary Public, paid him N29 million on September 14, 2017, for the duplex. Ugwuowo acknowledged receipt of the funds on his firm’s letterhead.
However, after receiving the money, Ugwuowo became evasive. The true owner of the property, Ciroma Muhammed Umar, later confirmed to the LPDC that he had never authorized Ugwuowo or anyone else to sell his property in Gwarimpa Estate.
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The report also detailed that Ugwuowo admitted to receiving the N29 million for the purpose of purchasing the house for Ms. Dauda but neither completed the purchase nor refunded the funds. Furthermore, a cheque for N29 million issued by Ugwuowo to Ms. Dauda from United Bank for Africa (UBA) was dishonored, proving to be a dud.
The LPDC concluded that Ugwuowo’s actions violated Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023, and are punishable under Section 12(1) of the Legal Practitioners Act.
“We the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee hereby find the Respondent, EVERESTUS CHINEDU UGWUOWO, ESQ…liable of infamous conduct in the course of his practice as a legal practitioner,” the final direction stated.
In addition to the five-year suspension from practicing law, Ugwuowo has been directed to refund the sum of N29,000,000 to Grace Dauda within 30 days from the date of the direction.
The LPDC has mandated the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to implement the order and make a notation against Ugwuowo’s name on the Roll of Legal Practitioners. The order will also be publicized in the PUNCH Newspaper and the Federal Gazette.
To ensure wide awareness and compliance, copies of the LPDC’s direction are to be served on various key figures and bodies within the legal and law enforcement communities, including: The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judges of High Courts across Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation and all State Attorneys General, and the Inspector-General of Police and all State Commissioners of Police.
This decisive action by the LPDC underscores the committee’s commitment to upholding the integrity and ethical standards of the legal profession in Nigeria.
By PRNigeria
