The Ogun State branch of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is asking the Court of Appeal in Ibadan to return the money it paid to the party’s main counsel, Chijioke Emeka (SAN), because he did not show up to the hearing.
On Thursday in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, South West Secretary of NNPP Babatunde Oke made the announcement to press.
Oke, speaking on behalf of the party, voiced their displeasure with Emeka’s actions, noting that they dishonor the office of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
According to information obtained by Infostride News, Emeka has been retained as main counsel by the NNPP and its candidate for governor of Ogun State in the 2023 general elections, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, in order to pursue their suit before the Appeal Court, Ibadan.
It was revealed that Isaac Dale Izunya, the party’s attorney, was instrumental in the hiring of Emeka.
DAILY POST has also learned that Emeka has been hired as the lead counsel in the appeal against INEC, Governor Dapo Abiodun, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for failing to include the APC’s name on the ballots used in the March 18 election in the state.
The appealing party has now claimed that the lead counsel did not show up to the appeal hearing on July 7.
The opposing party expressed surprise that Emeka did not appear at the Appeal Court after he had already been paid half of his professional legal cost.
The party claims that his absence at the hearing is to blame for the Appeal Court dismissing their appeal.
Speaking to reporters in Ibadan on Thursday, Oke stated that the lead attorney had given no explanation for his absence from court.
“No reason was given before and after his failure to show at the Appeal Court,” he continued, “hence we are calling on NBA and other related associations to sanction Emeka (SAN) for his fraudulent act.” The client is asking for a refund of the two million naira (N2,000,000) it paid toward the five million naira (N5,000,000) legal charge that was already paid in part.
Since morning, the media’s attempts to gain a comment from the defense team’s attorney have fallen flat.
As of Thursday afternoon, when this report was filed, calls to his cellphone had gone unanswered, and he had not responded to messages seeking comment.
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