Nigeria: Same People Different Rules
For you to properly understand how Nigeria works, I will explain Nigeria with these two men.
One is Mike Ozekhome, while the other is Abubakar Malami.
Both are renowned senior lawyers who have achieved a lot in their own right.
Both bear the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Both Mike Ozekhome and Abubakar Malami were indicted for allegedly committing criminal offences.
In Mike Ozekhome’s case, he was indicted for forgery, impersonation, and the use of false documents, specifically a fake Nigerian international passport, to claim a disputed property in London.
While Malami was indicted on a 16-count charge of money laundering, concealment, and diversion of ₦8.7 billion in public funds, as well as illegal possession of firearms.
Both are being prosecuted by Nigerian security/anti graft agencies and are on bail.
Mike Ozekhome has not been found guilty of any offence by any court.
On the flip side, Abubakar Malami has an interim forfeiture order hanging over 57 properties.
The interesting thing is that, irrespective of the facts above, the The Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee (LPPC) , at its 173rd General Meeting on June 23, 2026, held and barred Mike Ozekhome, who has not been convicted of any offence by any court, from holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Yet, Malami, who has an interim forfeiture order hanging over his head, continues to use his own rank undisturbed despite public petitions against him.
Malami is even contesting for the Kebbi State governorship seat under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Same people, different rules. That is how Nigeria works.
One is Mike Ozekhome, while the other is Abubakar Malami.
Both are renowned senior lawyers who have achieved a lot in their own right.
Both bear the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Both Mike Ozekhome and Abubakar Malami were indicted for allegedly committing criminal offences.
In Mike Ozekhome’s case, he was indicted for forgery, impersonation, and the use of false documents, specifically a fake Nigerian international passport, to claim a disputed property in London.
While Malami was indicted on a 16-count charge of money laundering, concealment, and diversion of ₦8.7 billion in public funds, as well as illegal possession of firearms.
Both are being prosecuted by Nigerian security/anti graft agencies and are on bail.
Mike Ozekhome has not been found guilty of any offence by any court.
On the flip side, Abubakar Malami has an interim forfeiture order hanging over 57 properties.
The interesting thing is that, irrespective of the facts above, the The Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee (LPPC) , at its 173rd General Meeting on June 23, 2026, held and barred Mike Ozekhome, who has not been convicted of any offence by any court, from holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Yet, Malami, who has an interim forfeiture order hanging over his head, continues to use his own rank undisturbed despite public petitions against him.
Malami is even contesting for the Kebbi State governorship seat under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Same people, different rules. That is how Nigeria works.
