The General Legal Council (GLC) has detailed the basis upon which it sanctioned human rights lawyer, Francis Xavier-Sosu, barring him from practicing as a lawyer for three years.
The Council in a statement available to citifmonline.com cited at least two major offences by the lawyer including overcharging a client, as reasons for its decision.
[contextly_sidebar id=”nFaIdNRmjBKpJoPbhkJ2J3MCyR3r0li7″]It said, within the 3-year period, lawyer Francis Xavier Sosu “shall not hold himself out as a Legal Practitioner or attend Chambers, or render, or purport to render any professional legal service to any person whomsoever, wheresoever.”
Citi News gathered earlier on Saturday [June 3], that the renowned Human Rights lawyer had been barred from holding himself out as a lawyer but details were not given about what necessitated the action.
But the General Legal Council said lawyer Xavier-Sosu was barred for overcharging a client, one Francis Agyare, when he represented him in a Human Right case in Accra.
According to the General Legal Council, lawyer Sosu charged his client GH¢50,000, which was “excessive” and an “overestimation” for the services rendered, although he [Sosu] had told the client he was offering his legal services for free.
The Council said Mr. Sosu failed to appear before its Disciplinary Committee when he was invited to offer an explanation for his action which was deemed a misconduct.
The Council added that lawyer Xavier-Sosu had flouted its Professional Conduct and Ettiquette rules by advertising his legal firm’s name and address on social media platform, Facebook.
It said lawyer Sosu had confessed guilt in both issues hence the 3-year ban.
“Lawyer Sosu was convicted on his own plea of guilty on both counts and was sentenced to a period of three (3) years suspension commencing 2nd day of June, 2017 and ending of 1st day of June, 2020. He is to be mentored by a senior for a period of one year commencing 2nd June, 2020 and ending on 1st June 2021.”
It added that, “the senior to mentor him shall lodge periodic reports on him [lawyer Sosu] to the General Legal Council’s Disciplinary Committee at the end of the every month during the mentorship period.”
‘Francis Sosu’s relationship with Francis Agyare’
Lawyer Francis Xavier-Sosu successfully defended Mr. Francis Agyare, 46, who was unlawfully detained for 14 years without trial to be compensated with GHs200,000.
Mr. Agyare was arrested on January 5, 1994 in James Town in a swoop together with some 56 others.
‘I’ll appeal ban’
Meanwhile, the human rights lawyer, who confirmed the ban to Citi News, has given indications that he will appeal the 3-year ban imposed on him.
He believes the ban is unfair, and thus will challenge it on Monday [June 5, 2017].
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana