1 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS

No. 116,773

In the Matter of U CHECHI O KECHUKWU N WAKANMA ,

Respondent

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ORDER OF TEMPORARY SUSPENSION

Uchechi Okechukwu Nwakanma, respondent, an attorney admitted to the practice
of law in the state of Kansa s, is presently the subject of pending disciplinary complaint s

. On October 18, 2016, a hearing panel of the Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys issued a final hearing report. In the report, the hearing panel stated:

"181. Finally, the hearing panel r ecommends that the disciplinary administrator file a motion seeking the temporary suspension of the respondent's license to practice law while the disciplinary case is pending, under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 203(b), for the following reasons: First, the respondent repeatedly engaged in dishonest conduct. Second, as described in the preceding paragraph, although the respondent claims his practice in Texas is and was limited to 'federal' practice, in fact he has engaged in the practice of state law in Texas. Third, t he nature of the
misconduct in J.Z

. 's case

— taking advanced fees and failing to perform the services

— puts the respondent's clients at great risk of continued financial loss."

On November 9, 2016, the Disciplinary Administrator filed a motion for temporary suspension under Supreme Court Rule 203(b) (2017 Kan. S. Ct. R. 234) . In the motion, the Disciplinary Administrator argued that the temporary suspension of the respondent's license to practice law in the state of Kansas is necessary for the protection
of the public.2

O n December 15, 2016 , th is c ourt issued an order to show cause why the respondent's license to practice law should not be temporarily suspended during the pendency of the disciplinary proceedings pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 203(b)

. A
heari ng on the matter was scheduled for January 24, 2017

.

At 6:03 p.m . on January 23, 2017, the respondent filed with t his court a "Notice of
Absence f

or Show Cause Hearing ," in which he stated that he would not be appearing at
the scheduled hearing to respo nd to the order. On January 24, 2017, the Disciplinary
Administrator appeared as scheduled, and the court heard argument on the motion for temporary suspension.

Temporary suspension under Rule 203(b) pending final disposition of a disciplinary complaint is designed to protect clients from injury and loss and to maintain the integrity and reputation of the legal professio n. Based on the hearing panel's findings,
the Disc iplinary Administrator's presentation , and the respondent's failure to reply to the
all egations in the show cause order, this court deems temporary suspension appropriate in the present case. Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 203(b) and for good cause shown, the

c ourt grants the motio n and temporarily suspends the r espondent ' s license to practi ce law.

I T I S T HEREFORE O RDERED that Uchechi Okechukwu Nwakanma be and he is hereby temporarily suspended f rom the practice of law in the s tate of Kansas until the pending disciplinary proceedings against him are resolved or until further order of th is

c ourt. During the term of this suspension, the respondent is prohibited from practicing law, which includes but is not limited to: holding himself out as an attorney; using a letterhead or other printed or electronic materials identifying him as an attor ney; filing legal proceedings or pleadings in courts or admi nistrative tribunals; appearing for or representing clients in any legal proceeding; counseling or consulting w ith clients in any legal matter ; and fixing or receiving fees for services involving legal matters while under suspension

.3

I T I S F URTHER O RDERED that a copy of this o rder be filed with the Clerk of the
United States District Court s for the District of Kansas and the Southern District of Texas
and be served upon the respondent.

I T I S F URTHER O RDERED that the r espondent shall forthwith comply with the provisions of Supreme Court Rule 218 (2017 Kan. S. Ct. R

. 262 )

.

Effective this 27th day of January, 2017

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