July 13, (THEWILL) – The New Nigeria People’s 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 Sitting in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
This is as the party has also demanded refund of its two million naira (N2,000,000.00) out of two million, five hundred thousand naira (2,500,000.00) part payment of the five million (5,000,000.00) legal fee.
THEWILL recalled that in order to successfully prosecute its petition at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, the NNPP and its Gubernatorial Candidate in the 2023 General Elections in Ogun state, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, hired Chijioke Emeka (SAN), as lead counsel through their Counsel, Isaac Dale Izunya of Izunya Izunya Law Firm.
Izunya Izunya Law Firm was authorised by the National leadership of the NNPP through a letter signed by the Party’s National Legal Adviser, Robert Hon, to liaise with any counsel he deemed worthy to work with, to defend the NNPP at the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Consequently, Chijioke Emeka (SAN), was engaged to join the appeal legal team as a lead 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’s name on the ballot paper used in conducting March 18, 2023 governorship election in Ogun state.
The party said on Thursday, that to its surprise, Emeka (SAN) after collecting fifty percent (50%) of his professional legal fee, failed to show up at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, during the hearing, which according to the party, may be part of the reasons, the Appeal Court struck out the case.
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 Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
He maintained that a lawyer of Emeka’s virtue should be trusted and professional enough to get in touch with his client, if he would not be able to be present at the Court.
Oke said no excuse was given by Emeka (SAN) for his failure to attend the Court, and he said for this reason, he is calling on Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), to sanction Emeka for breach of contract.
According to him, “How can a SAN, the highest rank in legal profession, descend so low, after collecting half of his professional legal fee and failed to show up for a job he was paid for.
“No reason was given before and after his failure to show up at the Appeal Court, hence, we are calling on NBA and other related Associations to sanction Emeka (SAN).
“Also, the party is seeking the refund of the part-payment it paid to Emeka as legal fee”.
The demand for the refund was 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 “RE: Letter of Engagement For The Prosecution Of The Case Of Our Client: New Nigeria People’s Party” and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday.
According to the letter, “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 sir, 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.”
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
