Legal panel orders Lagos-based Nigerian lawyer Michael Olawoyin to refund the sum of ₦13.27 million after finding him guilty of professional misconduct.
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) of Nigeria’s Body of Benchers has suspended Lagos-based lawyer Michael Olalekan Olawoyin for five years after finding him guilty of professional misconduct involving a disputed land sale.
The decision, handed down on January 20, 2025, also ordered Olawoyin to refund ₦13.27 million (about $8,500) to his client, Emmanuel Oyedele Oyekunle, within 30 days. The disciplinary body ruled that the lawyer acted dishonestly by selling the same property to multiple buyers before leaving for Germany.
The panel, chaired by Justice Dr. Ishaq Bello, included senior judges and attorneys from across Nigeria. It concluded that Olawoyin’s conduct violated Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, which demands integrity and honesty from all members of the bar.
According to the case file (BB/LPDC/461/2021), the complaint began when Oyekunle alleged that Olawoyin, through his firm Octagon Legal and Consultancy Services, persuaded him to purchase a 226-square-meter parcel of land at 22 Bello Street, Ketu, Lagos, for ₦11 million. The payment was made between May and June 2020, with official receipts and documents purportedly issued by the firm.
However, despite full payment, the client neither received the land nor any title documents. Subsequent investigations revealed that Olawoyin sold the same property to another buyer for ₦30 million in December 2020. Police later confirmed the double sale, and reports indicated that the lawyer fled to Germany soon afterward.
Read Also: Ghana President Fires Chief Justice Over Abuse Allegations
The LPDC noted that Olawoyin failed to file a defense or appear at any stage of the hearing, despite receiving formal notice. After reviewing evidence, including receipts, contracts, and correspondence, the panel determined that his actions constituted “infamous professional misconduct.”
In addition to the suspension and refund order, the LPDC directed that the ruling be published in the Federal Gazette and a national newspaper. It also instructed notifications to be sent to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, heads of the appellate and high courts, and the Nigerian Bar Association.
The committee underscored that Olawoyin’s behavior undermined the ethical foundations of legal practice and reaffirmed that dishonesty—whether within or outside client relationships—can attract severe disciplinary consequences.
Africa Daily News, New York
