Court quashes Lawyer Sosu’s Three-Year Ban

A Human Rights Court has overturned the three-year suspension of Francis-Xavier Sosu for practicing as a lawyer.

The court presided over by Her Ladyship Justice Gifty Agyei-Addo set-aside the orders of the General Legal Council, which were handed out in June 2017.

The court also set-aside the one-year mentorship handed to Sosu.She found that the charges of Touting and Personal Advertisement as grave misconduct were not under law.

This followed the hearing of an Application for Judicial Review filed by the human rights lawyer on November 3, 2017.

Mr. Sosu was suspended after being found guilty of professional misconduct.

The Council in a statement cited at least two major offenses by the lawyer including overcharging a client, as reasons for its decision.

Mr. Sosu was said to have overcharged 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 explain his action which was deemed misconduct.

“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.” –  General Legal Council.

The Council added that lawyer Xavier-Sosu had flouted its Professional Conduct and Etiquette 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.