By Ghazali Ibrahim
The High Court of Lagos State has ruled that the legal practice licence of Idris K. Thany, Esq. remains valid pending the determination of his appeal against a disciplinary direction issued by the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
Delivering judgment on Monday, October 6, 2025, at the Ikorodu Judicial Division, Justice I.O. Akinkugbe (Mrs.) held that the filing of an appeal by Mr. Thany automatically operates as a stay of execution under Section 12(6)(a) of the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA).
The court’s decision effectively allows Mr. Thany to continue his professional legal practice despite a two-year suspension imposed on him by the LPDC on September 15, 2025.
The matter came up in case number IKD/1317LMW/2015, where opposing counsel questioned Mr. Thany’s eligibility to appear before the court. In her ruling, Justice Akinkugbe sided with Mr. Thany, affirming that the law protects practitioners from enforcement of LPDC directions once an appeal has been filed within the statutory timeframe.
Quoting from the judgment, the court stated:
“The filing of an appeal does operate as a stay of execution, which in effect means I.K. Thany, Esq. can continue to practice until his appeal is determined.”
The court also confirmed that Mr. Thany’s Notice of Appeal, filed on September 26, 2025, was within the 28-day window stipulated by the LPA.
The decision underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding due process and protecting the rights of legal practitioners pending the conclusion of disciplinary appeals.
Mr. Thany’s case, now before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, challenges the LPDC’s decision on 12 grounds of appeal, including alleged procedural irregularities and reliance on unsworn testimony.
With this ruling, the High Court has maintained the status quo, affirming Mr. Thany’s right to continue representing clients and discharging his duties as a legal practitioner while the apex court determines the merit of his appeal.
