JOHN AFOLABI FABIYI, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the direction of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of the Body of Benchers ('the Committee' for short) which was delivered on 22nd February, 2011. Therein, the Committee directed the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to strike off the name of the appellant from the roll of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria.
It is pertinent to state the facts of the matter, briefly. On the 16th of March, 2005 the respondent addressed a complaint to the Committee against the appellant, a member of legal profession. The complaint was based on a petition by one Mrs. Victoria Akinyele Aliu through her solicitors - Mike Umonnan and Co. which alleged that the appellant
"...conspired with a tenant of the complainant, one Alaji Saliu Gbolagade and forged the complainant's signature on a lease agreement in respect of the complainant's property situate at No. 52, Western Avenue, Surulere, Lagos with intent to deprive…