A group of Nigerian legal experts has asked the government to look into some public comments made by a top lawyer and the Senate President about a court case that hasn’t been decided yet.

The group, called the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), sent a petition dated May 3, 2025, to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC). The letter was signed by ALDRAP’s secretary, Amuga Jesse Williams.

They want the LPDC to investigate Mike Ubani, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). According to the group, Ubani publicly said that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently suspended, was guilty of defaming Senate President Godswill Akpabio. But the court has not yet given a judgment on the case.

ALDRAP believes Ubani’s comments go against a legal rule called the sub-judice rule. This rule says people, especially lawyers, should not discuss or judge cases that are still being handled in court.

The group also mentioned that Ubani may have broken Order 33 of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) for Lawyers, which was updated in 2023. This rule explains how lawyers should act, especially in matters involving public interest.

Order 33 of the Rules of Professional Conduct of Legal Practitioners (RPC) 2023 stated: “A lawyer or law firm engaged in or associated with the prosecution or defence of a criminal matter, or associated with a civil action shall not, while litigation is anticipated or pending in the matter, make or participate in making any extra-judicial statement that is calculated to prejudice or interfere with, or is reasonably capable of prejudicing or interfering with, the fair trial of the matter or the judgment or the sentence.

Parts of the petition submitted to LPDC – a body mandated with ensuring discipline in the legal profession – reads, “Our Association (ALDRAP) is a watchdog of legislative institutions in Nigeria and beyond, ensuring that officials comply with the rule of law. We have filed several public interest litigation against officials of the National Assembly on different issues wherein we observed their non-compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was elected and sworn in as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the year 2023. Some of the members of our Association (ALDRAP) are represented by the said Senator Natasha.

“These members are complaining that they are not provided with good quality representation by the said Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan because of the activities of the Senate President and Dr. Monday Ubani, SAN, who are both lawyers. The reason is because both persons are not complying with the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners.

“Since the year February 2025, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been involved as both a litigant and defendant in a series of lawsuits against the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Godswill Obot Akpabio and his wife.

“Instead of complying with Order 33 of the RPC, Dr. Monday O. Ubani, SAN, a lawyer for the said Senate President, has resorted to numerous publications on both social media and traditional news media platforms where he engages in usurpation of the adjudicatory role of the courts of law by making pronouncements that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is guilty of defamation against the President of the Senate (whereas the courts of law are yet to issue any pronouncements).”

To support their complaint, ALDRAP pointed to an article titled “Prof Mgbeke’s Bombshell: Exposing the Web of Deceit Against Senate President Akpabio,” dated May 2, 2025. They say the article, allegedly written by Ubani, tried to paint Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as already guilty, even though her case is still in court.

ALDRAP is asking the LPDC to investigate and, if needed, discipline Ubani for his actions.

In addition to that, the group also sent another letter to Vice President Kashim Shettima, who chairs a special government panel that is looking into sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Akpabio. They want that panel to be aware of the situation too.

The letter, dated 5th May 2025, is titled ‘Submission of evidence of violation of Order 33 of the Rules of Professional Conduct of Legal Practitioners (RPC) 2023 by two lawyers namely Senate President and his lawyer, Dr. Monday O. Ubani, SAN.’

“We write to inform your good self that both the Senate President and his lawyer, Dr. Monday O. Ubani, SAN (who are both lawyers) are in violation of the above-named relevant laws that govern Nigerian lawyers. Their violations relate to the ongoing allegations of sexual harassment against the President of the Senate as alleged by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“We have enclosed some of the documents relating to our claims and we look forward to providing additional documents and oral testimony to provide guidance and support for the work that the Presidential Panel on Investigation of the Allegations of Sexual Harassment Against His Excellency Godswill Obot Akpabio, President of the Senate. We look forward to your prompt and positive response,” parts of the letter read.

This situation raises concerns about how lawyers and public figures speak about cases that are still in court, and how their words could affect justice and fairness.