Court Affirms Ozekhome As Patience Jonathan’s Convicted Companies’ Counsel
By
TML -

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday held that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome, was validly appointed to represent four companies that pleaded guilty to laundering $15.5million allegedly belonging to former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

Justice Babs Kuewumi held that another lawyer, Luke Aghanenu, who claimed to have been appointed by the companies’ directors, was not properly briefed.

The companies are – Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Limited.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the firms with a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to ex- President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo Dudafa, a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs, who is the companies’ secretary, and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku.

Unlike the companies, Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge.

Aghanenu had filed a motion for change of counsel, praying the court to hold that he was validly appointed by the companies’ directors to represent them, not Ozekhome.

But, Ozekhome urged the court to dismiss the application for change of counsel, arguing that he was authorised to act as the companies’ counsel through a letter by Briggs.

Ruling, Justice Kuewumi held that if the companies wanted to change the counsel that was appointed by their secretary, it ought to be by board resolution.

He said there was no such resolution before him and that the individual hand-written letters by the companies’ directors fell short of the minimum requirement.

“The fourth to seventh defendants are limited liability companies. If they are to change counsel, it should be by way of board resolution,” he said.

Besides, Justice Kuewumi noted that he had earlier ruled on the issue when there was a dispute on representation, in which he recognised Ozekhome as the authorised counsel.

“Until that decision is appealed against, this application is bound to fail. Same is hereby dismissed,” the judge held

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