NNPP lawyer, Chijioke, refuses to show at Appeal Court, after allegedly receiving N2.5m fee
…Party demands refund
By Stephen Gbadamosi
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ogun State chapter, has expressed dismay over the non-appearance of its lead counsel, Chijioke Emeka, SAN, at the hearing of its appeal at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, just as the party is demanding a refund of its alleged N2.5 million part-payment of the N5,000 million legal fee.
Recall that in order to successfully prosecute their petition at the Appeal Court, Ibadan, the NNPP and its gubernatorial candidate in 2023 general elections in Ogun State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, had reportedly a hired Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chijioke Emeka, as lead counsel through another counsel, Isaac Dale Izunya of Izunya Izunya Law Firm.
Izunya Izunya Law Firm was reportedly authorised by the national leadership of the NNPP, through a letter signed by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Robert Hon, briefing him to “liase with any counsel he deemed worthy to work with, to defend the NNPP at the Ogun State Govenorship Election Petition Tribunal.”
Consequently, Emeka, SAN, was engaged to join the appeal legal team as a led counsel in a petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Dapo Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over omission of the party name on the ballot paper used in conducting the March 18th governorship election in the state.
“But to the surprise of the party, Emeka , SAN, after collecting 50 per cent of his professional legal fee, failed to show up at the Appeal Court, Ibadan for hearing, a development which may be part of the reasons the Appeal Court struck out the case,” a statement made available to journalists by the party on Thursday noted.
Speaking on the development in Ibadan on Thursday, the party’s South-West Secretary, Comrade Babatunde Oke, expressed disappointment in Emeka’s conduct, saying “this act is tantamount to bastardisation of the position of SAN.”
He maintained that a lawyer of Emeka’s virtue should be trusted and professionally enough to get in touch with his clients, “even if he would not be able to present in court.”
Oke said no excuse was given by Emeka for his failure to attend the court; and for this reason, he was calling on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to sanction Emeka for breach of contract.
“How can a SAN, the highest rank in legal profession, descended so low and be caught in web of fraudulent act, after collecting half of his professional legal fees and failing to show for a job paid for?
“No reason was given before and after his failure to show at the Appeal Court; hence, we are calling on the NBA and other related associations to sanction Emeka, SAN, for his fraudulent act,” he said.
Also, the party is seeking for the refund of the part payment it paid to Emeka as legal fee.
The demadfor refund was said to be contained in a letter dated 11th July, 2023 written by Izunya Izunya Law Firm to Chijioke O. P. Emeka of Auxano Law Firm, with the heading; “Rr: Letter of Engagement For The Prosecution Of The Case Of Our Client: New Nigeria Peoples Party,” made available to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday.
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According to the letter, the lawyers said “we are a firm of legal practitioners acting as counsel for New Nigeria Peoples Party (hereinafter referred to as our client) and on whose behalf we write.
“Recall that you were engaged to lead our law firm in the prosecution of the above appeal at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, wherein you agreed to be paid the sum of 5,000,000 (Five million naira) only and upon which as equally agreed by you, the sum of N2,500,000 (Two million, five hundred thousand naira) was paid to you as part payment of which you duly acknowledged receipt.
“In view of your absence to lead us on the 4th day of July, 2023 being the day the appeal came up for hearing we in accordance to the authority of our client demand for the repayment of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) only into our clients account.
“While we await your kind and swift response to our request, please accept the warmest regards of our client.”
