Peoples’ Club President Petitions NBA Over Lawyers’ Role In Leadership Crisis
The President of Peoples’ Club of Nigeria/International, Chief Joseph Ilonze, has filed a petition with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), accusing three club members, who are lawyers, of instigating a leadership crisis within the organization.
The petition, dated December 16, 2024, and received by the LPDC on December 20, names Felix Obi-Okafor, Fidelis Onyebueke, and Lawrence Arinze as respondents. Ilonze claims that the trio, previously expelled from the club, have used their legal expertise to harass and intimidate members, including himself. He is requesting disciplinary action against them under the Legal Practitioners Act, 2004.
Ilonze’s grievances stem from a recent leadership dispute, during which he alleged that the trio staged a “coup d’état” to remove him from office while he was abroad. Following a court ruling in July 2023 by Justice Pete Obiora, which affirmed Ilonze as the legitimate National President, the trio allegedly erected barriers at the club’s Onitsha headquarters and deployed security operatives to deny Ilonze and his supporters entry.
Ilonze also referenced a December 20, 2024, ruling by Justice Chukwudi Okaa of the Atani High Court. The judgment awarded Ilonze N5 million in damages against the trio for using the police to violate his fundamental rights and restrained security forces from denying him access to the club’s premises.
Briefing journalists at the club’s Onitsha branch, Ilonze reiterated his call for the NBA to suspend or expel the accused lawyers, stating, “They have been expelled from our club for peace to reign. Now, we are appealing to the NBA to query and take action against them for using their profession to intimidate us.”
In response, Lawrence Arinze, one of the accused and leader of an opposing faction, dismissed the allegations as baseless. Arinze argued that the Atani High Court lacked jurisdiction over the matter and noted that legal proceedings concerning the club’s leadership crisis were ongoing.
The petition adds another layer of complexity to the protracted dispute over the presidency of the Peoples’ Club of Nigeria/International, a prestigious organization established decades ago to foster unity among Igbo traders worldwide.
