The Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee [LPPC] has suspended the Former Attorney General of the Federation [AGF] and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoaka for two years from the use of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

In a statement signed by the secretary of the committee, Mr Sunday Olorundahunsi, the decision to suspend the erstwhile AGF was reached after due consideration of the report of the sub-committee earlier set up to review the petition of the committee for the defence of human rights, the judgment of the Federal High Court, Calabar on June 1, 2010 declaring among others that he is unfit to hold the office of an Attorney General or any public office in Nigeria.

The statement added that the declaration of Mr Aondoakaa as persona non grata for offences relating to corruption and the consequent revocation of his entry visa by the American Government earlier in the year also informed the decision of the committee to suspend him.

It could be recalled that Michael Aondoakaa, was been barred from using the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the legal practitioners privileges committee of the Nigerian Bar Association [NBA] in October 2010.

The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Sunday Olorundahunsi, said the committee took the decision at a meeting following consideration of the former AGF�s response to a petition written against him by the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR).

"...the committee, after due consideration of the said response, has decided in its wisdom, to suspend him[Aondoakaa] from the use of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and all other privileges attached to that rank, pending the outcome of the investigation by the sub-committee set up by the legal practitioners privileges committee," Mr. Olorundahunsi said.

Amongst a number of allegations, the petition accuses the former justice minister of using his position to "emasculate the anti-corruption institutions." He is also accused of "lying and deception" in an attempt to bury corruption charges brought against James Ibori, the former Delta State governor, and his associates.

The petition goes on to say that Mr, Aondakaa was guilty of "deliberate mis-interpretation, mis-application, and incompetence." He also showed "an inadequate knowledge of the law," the petition read.

The travel ban from the USA was also one of the reasons for the first ban and allegations of obstruction of justice during his time as a minister.

Additionally, a Calabar High Court also at the same time barred Aondoakaa from holding any public office, following a lawsuit that accused Mr. Aondoakaa of impeding judgment during an election hearing.

Mr. Aondakaa was one of the more vocal members of the late President Yar�Adua�s cabinet. During the former president�s absence from the country, Mr. Aondakaa repeatedly told Nigerians that governance could continue as usual.

Several notable high profile cases, such as Halliburton and Siemens, were not given due attention during his three-year stint as a minister.

One of President Jonathan�s first actions on assumption to office was to strip him of the justice portfolio and assign him the special duties ministry, a position he refused to serve in.