Francis-Xavier Sosu
The General Legal Council (GLC) has banned Francis-Xavier Sosu, a human rights lawyer, from practising for three years.
He incurred the wrath of the GLC when he was found guilty of a reported misconduct.
A statement issued by the GLC indicated, “The disciplinary committee of the General legal Council formally charged Lawyer Sosu under Rule 2(4) of the legal profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 1969 L.I. 613 and that he, while acting as counsel for Torgbui Afede XIV, in a matter between Torgbui Afede and the Chief of Defence Staff, Minister of the Interior, Attorney General and another, took to Facebook with pictures of the parties and comments on the case to the public with his firm’s name, address and telephone numbers attached, with the primary motive of personal advertisement and touting.”
It further stated, “He was further charged under Rule 2 (4) of the legal profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rule, 1996 L.I. 613 that he, while acting as counsel for Reynolds Yeboah, in the matter between Patrick Reynolds Yeboah and M.DEX Company Limited in Accra, Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly, Accra, took to Facebook posting the writ of summons in the said case and made comments to the public with the firm’s name, address and telephone numbers attached, with the primary motive of personal advertisement.”
In another case, Sosu who contested the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primary at the Madina Constituency ahead of the 2016 elections, was said to have charged one Francis Agyare GH¢20,000 extra in legal fees.
The statement also pointed out, “Lawyer Sosu was formally charged under Rule 9 (9) of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 1969 L.I. 613 that he, having assisted Mr Francis Agare, in human rights litigation in Accra, charged him GH¢50,000 which was excessive and an over-estimation of the services rendered to him, when he represented to the Council that he was offering pro bono legal services.
He was also charged under Section 19 (5) of the Legal Profession Act that he, having been duly notified, failed to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council on 9th June, 2016.”
Agyare was in jail for 14 years without trial but through the help of Mr Sosu, he was released, subsequently sued the state for wrongful imprisonment and succeeded in securing GH¢204,000 compensation.
According to the agreement, Agyare was to pay 25 percent of whatever compensation he got to the lawyer and reportedly refused to pay the lawyer initially after he got the money, but later went to pay more than he was to pay.
At the GLC hearing, Mr Sosu reportedly indicated that he was not aware that Agyare was going to pay any amount into the accounts of his chambers but agreed that what was paid was more than necessary.
He immediately refunded the extra money.
However, the statement noted, “Lawyer Sosu was convicted on his own plea of guilty on both counts and was sentenced to a period of three years’ suspension commencing June 2, 2017 and ending 1st day of June, 2020.”
As part of the ban, the former NDC parliamentary hopeful is to be mentored by a senior and for a period of one year – commencing 2nd June, 2020 and ending 1st June 2021. The senior to mentor him would lodge periodic reports on him to the Council’s Disciplinary Committee at the end of every month during the mentorship.”
Rules of the General Legal Council do not permit lawyers in Ghana to undertake any form of advertisement.
Mr Sosu has been involved in several high profile human rights cases in the country, including the case of Charles Antwi, the man who allegedly attempted to shoot former President John Mahama at church.
He was also counsel for Eric Asante, a teacher who was sentenced for 15 years for a crime he did not commit.
Currently, he is watching criminal brief for cateress Evelyn Boakye, employee of the Ablempke branch of Mawarko Restaurant, Accra, in the case in which the cateress has sued her boss, Jihad Chaaban for assault – her boss allegedly dipping her head into blended pepper.
However, Mr Sosu has claimed that the ban was unfair and so would appeal against it.