The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has suspended Barrister Marcel Udebuani, also known as “AGAMS,” from legal practice for five years following findings of professional misconduct and misappropriation of client funds.
In a ruling delivered on June 20, the LPDC determined that Udebuani betrayed the trust inherent in the lawyer-client relationship by failing to account for substantial sums held in his trust accounts since 2019. The committee described his actions as “a gross betrayal of the noble legal profession.”
Under the terms of the suspension, Udebuani is barred from all legal practice in Nigeria until mid-2030. He has been given 30 days to provide a full, itemized account of every naira received from clients since January 2019, or face further disciplinary measures.
“The integrity of our profession depends on strict adherence to ethical rules governing client funds,” LPDC Chairperson Mrs. Ifeoma Okpala said. “By declining to account fully for those funds, Barr. Udebuani violated the core duties of a legal practitioner.”
Udebuani’s troubles date back to multiple complaints lodged between 2021 and early 2025 by clients alleging unreturned retainers and unexplained withdrawals. Investigations uncovered discrepancies in trust ledgers and bank statements, prompting the LPDC to convene a formal disciplinary tribunal.
In his defence, the suspended counsel claimed procedural irregularities and insisted that all client monies had been properly disbursed. He has announced his intention to seek judicial review of the LPDC’s ruling within the next 30 days.
Legal observers have praised the committee’s firm stance. “This decision sends a clear message that neither prominence nor influence can shield practitioners from accountability,” said senior counsel Chukwuemeka Nwankwo.
The development has also sparked off a chain of reactions on the social media, as ordinary citizens—many of whom have long complained of extortionate fees and opaque billing—hailed the ruling as overdue and necessary for rebuilding trust in the justice system.
The LPDC also warned other practitioners to review their trust-account practices and reaffirmed its commitment to swift, transparent handling of professional misconduct cases.
