My suspension is unconstitutional – Lawyer Sosu tells Court

Human rights lawyer, Francis Xavier Sosu has in suit described the decision to suspend him for three years for advertising as discriminatory.

The suit which was filed Wednesday, June 7, 2017, is also challenging his 4 year suspension for overcharging a client and touting.

Lawyer Sosu’s suspension, according to the General Legal Council (GLC), was that he charged a client, Francis Agyare, GH¢50,000 as legal fee for a compensation claim of GH¢200,000.

The GLC, in its notice of suspension, stated that the legal fee charged by him was “excessive and an overestimation of the services rendered him when he represented to him that he was offering pro-bono legal service’’.

But the private legal practitioner believes both charges brought under the Professional conduct and etiquette rules of the legal profession 1969 are inconsistent with Article 19 of the constitution.

Whiles he argues that the charge of overcharging under the professional rules is overbroad and vague, Lawyer Sosu in the suit expressed surprise at the failure of the General Legal Council to disclose the complainant in the allegation of touting.

He accused the Council of acting as complainant, prosecutor and judge in adjudicating the charge of touting which is contrary to the rules.

The legal practitioner is, therefore, seeking an order from the Court of Appeal dismissing his suspension.