The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ogun State Chapter has expressed dismay over the nonappearance of its lead Counsel, Chijioke Emeka (SAN) at the hearing of its appeal at the Appeal Court, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

The party demanded a 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.

It would be recalled that in order to successfully prosecute their petition at the Appeal Court, Ibadan, the NNPP and its gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general elections in Ogun state, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo hired Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chijioke Emeka 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 briefing him to liase 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 led counsel in a petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Dapo Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the omission of the party name on the ballot paper used in conducting March 18th governorship election in Ogun state.

But to the surprise of the party, Emeka (SAN) after collecting fifty percent (50%) of his professional legal fee failed to show up at the Appeal Court, Ibadan for a hearing which 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 geo-political Secretary, Comrade Babatunde Oke expressed disappointment in the Emeka’s conduct, saying this act is tantamount to bastardization 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 present at Court.

Oke said no excuse was given by Emeka (SAN) for his failure to attend the Court, 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 the legal profession descend so low and be caught in a web of fraudulent acts, after collectinghalf of his professional legal fee failed to show for the job paid for?

“No reason was given before and after his failure to show at the Appeal Court, hence, we are calling on NBA and other related Associations to sanction Emeka (SAN) for his fraudulent act,” he added.

Also, the party is seeking for a refund of the part payment it paid to Emeka as the legal fee.

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 client’s account.

“While we await your kind and swift response to our request, please accept the warmest regards of our client,” the party said. (Daily Independent)

•Combination picture of NNPP logo and Chijioke Emeka (SAN)