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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Friday stormed the Court of Appeal with a petition against a legal practitioner, Sopuluchukwu Ezeonwuka for alleged forgery with respect to an appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/454/2023, between APGA & others against INEC & others.
Led by the founder and pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Chekwas Okorie, the APGA chieftains presented a petition to the President Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem against a legal practitioner,
Ezeonwuka.
The petition dated May 29, 2024, was copied to the presiding Justice, Court of Appeal; the President,
Nigerian Bar Association; the Chairman,
Body of Benchers, and the Chairman,
Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
The letter titled, “Petition Against Barr. Sopuluchukwu E. Ezeonwuka for the sharp practices in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/454/2023: APGA & ors V. INEC & ors” was written on behalf of Chief Chekwas Okorie, Chief Jonathan Oyiborhino Osigho and APGA, by their solicitor, Nkechinyere Ogbuehi, Esq, of
Magna Mentes Associates.
Addressing the press shortly after submission of the petition on Friday, Chief Okorie prayed the PCA to cause an investigation into the alleged professional misconduct of Barr Ezeonwuka in the matter and bring the culprits to book.
“This will forestall and deter desperate litigants from employing unethical means, using the instruments of the courts for their ulterior motives to the detriment of innocent citizens” Okorie stated.
Flanked by Chief Osigho, the current National Chairman of APGA, Chief Edozie Njoku, and other chieftains of the party, Okorie called on the PCA to use her “good office to ensure that this matter serves as a deterrent to the likes of Barr. Sopuluchukwu E. Ezeonwuka”.
The petitioners complained to the PCA about “the very disturbing action” of Barr. Ezeonwuka in the said appeal, urging the the PCA to look into the scenario very carefully especially as P. I. Ikwueto, SAN (Counsel to Chief Victor Oye) tried to import the judgment into Appeal No: CA/724/2023: Chief Victor Oye V. Otunba Camaru Lateef & 2 ors, during the adoption and hearing of the appeal on the 27th of May, 2024, in favour of the Appellant.
“Mr. Ikwueto’s presentation made our clients to become aware of the existence of the said judgment from the Court of Appeal for the first time.
“It is our client’s brief that they have no idea whatsoever of Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/454/2023: APGA & ORS V. INEC & ORS and never briefed any one to file or prosecute the said appeal.
“The purported appeal emanated from Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1750/2022: OKORIE & Ors V. INEC Ors initiated at the Federal Court, Abuja with the following as Plaintiffs: APGA, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Jonathan Osigho and Barr. Sopuluchukwu Ezeonwuka.
After the judgment at the Federal High Court, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, on March 27, 2023, the petitioners stated that APGA instructed all the members involved in the matter not to go on Appeal as soon as the Supreme Court Judgment was corrected in their favour on 24th of March, 2023 in SC/CA/687/2021, between Chief Jude Okeke V. APGA & ors.
“Strangely, without the approval of the Party and without consulting the other Appellants or securing their approval, Barr. Sopuluchukwu E. Ezeonwuka, surreptitiously took out an affidavit on behalf of the entire Appellants and went at their back to file an Appeal without the consent of the Party nor Chief Chekwas Okorie or Jonathan Osigho.
“Furthermore, the appearances section of the judgment in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/454/2023: APGA & ORS V. INEC & ORS, has the name of Chief C. N. Nwagbo as the Counsel for the Appellants. At no point whatsoever did the Appellants agreed to engage C. N. Nwagbo neither was there any evidence of payment from them for such services” the petitioners wrote.
The APGA chieftains stated that Barr. Ezeonwuka’s attitude leaves much to be desired considering the fact that a case of that magnitude could be filed out of time without the consent and agreement of all the Appellants.
They noted that the inclusion of the name of Mr. Jonathan Osigho both as an Appellant and Respondent by Barr. Ezeonwuka, leaves much to be desired, adding that “Despite being a lawyer, Barr. Ezeonwuka seemed to have deliberately filed out of time to favour the Respondents.
“In his desperation to do the biddings of the Respondents, he included the name of Mr. Jonathan Osigho both as an Appellant and a Respondent” Chekwas Okorie wrote.
