The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has released an updated disciplinary register naming 15 Nigerian lawyers who have been suspended or disbarred from practising before US immigration courts over professional misconduct.

The disciplinary measures were issued through the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the agency responsible for regulating attorneys who represent clients before US immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals. The register includes lawyers facing permanent disbarment, indefinite suspension and fixed-term suspension.

Affected Nigerian lawyers
Lawyer Disciplinary status
Taiwo A. Agbaje (Maryland) Disbarred
Alexander O. Akpodiete (Florida) Six-month suspension
Frank A.K. Awuah (DC/Maryland) Indefinite suspension
Cyril O. Chukwurah (Texas) Disbarred
Jude Chukwuma Ezeala (Maryland) Indefinite suspension
Olayemi Isaac Falusi (Maryland) Indefinite suspension
Kehinde Oluwaranti Jobi (New York) Suspended (later reinstated)
Uchechi Okechukwu Nwakanma (Texas) Disbarred
Wilfred I. Aka Disbarred
Chuck Odifu Egbune Suspended
Chinyere Alex Ogoke Suspended
Ignatius Chukwuemeka Udeani Suspended
John Udo Suspended
Emeka M. Uyamadu Suspended
Owolabi Salis Suspended

According to the EOIR, the sanctions arise from various forms of professional misconduct committed over several years. The disciplinary actions determine whether an attorney may appear before US immigration courts and do not automatically affect their licence to practise law in every jurisdiction where they are admitted.

The disciplinary records involve allegations ranging from client-fund misappropriation and dishonesty to neglect of clients’ matters, unauthorised legal practice and other breaches of professional ethics. In many cases, the EOIR imposed reciprocal sanctions after disciplinary findings by state courts or bar authorities.

The Department of Justice said the attorney discipline programme is designed to protect the integrity of immigration proceedings and ensure that legal practitioners appearing before immigration courts maintain the highest professional and ethical standards.

While several of the affected lawyers remain permanently barred from practising before US immigration courts, others are serving time-limited or indefinite suspensions, and at least one attorney has since been reinstated following the completion of disciplinary proceedings.