Balarabe Musa causes stir in Akure High Court over LG suit

Former governor of Kaduna state and the National Chairman of the People Redemption Party (PRP) Alhaji Balarabe Musa, on Wednesday caused a stir at the Akure High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo state capital, accusing Justice S.A. Sadiq of imposing an unknown lawyer on the party in a suit instituted by the party.

The PRP has filed a suit at an Akure High Court challenging the exemption of the party in the local government election conducted in the state last year.

The suit which was filed on behalf of PRP by its Counsel, Mr Femi Aborisade, has ODIEC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the state government as defendants, challenging the exclusion of his party at the Local Government election conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC)last year April.

Musa who was in court to witness the proceedings of the suit filed by the party yesterday was however stunned when he noticed a strange lawyer, Mr. Segun Ogodo, representing his party before the Justice Sadiq court and raised objection to the development that the party did not hire him to represent the party.

The National party State Chairman, Mr Tunde Ali raised their objection over Ogodo’s appearance in the court for the party saying they did not brief Ogodo to represent them but said they had briefed Borisade who is their lawyer.

Musa and the state party Chairman however kicked that since Borisade was not in court, they had briefed Mr Udofot Ekereke to hold forth for Borisade, expressing dismay that a lawyer who was not retained by the party could go to the court without the consent and knowledge of the litigants.

He described Ogodo’s attitude as unprofessional saying that the impostor had earlier filed an application before the Court for change of counsel and had been representing the party without any authorization.

But Justice Sadiq said since there was change of counsel and has been representing the party, he should go ahead with his case.

This development led to shouting match in the court premises as Local Government chairmen and councillors elected on the platform of PRP publicly accused the judge of bias and predetermined judgment.

It however took the intervention of security agents around the court to douse the situation of things, while Justice Sadiq fixed the case to March 31 for further hearing.

Addressing newsmen after the court session, Musa said, “I was surprised how a lawyer can go to court to represent PRP without me knowing him, without being briefed. I was surprised how a lawyer for that matter can have the audacity to do that. To me, this is gross professional misconduct.”

“I don’t know him, I have not briefed him and he pretended that he was representing PRP. The second surprise is that I wanted to tell the judge in the court that I did not know that lawyer who pretended to represent me.”

“I wanted to tell the judge that Barrister Femi Borisade is the one I briefed as the National Chairman of PRP on this case, but I was surprised the judge did not allow me.”

Musa explained that the case had been laid to rest since the party had been allowed to participate in the election but said Ogodo resurrected the case in order to cause mischief.

The PRP had filed a suit at an Akure High Court alleging that the logo of the party was missing in the ballot papers to be used for the April 16, 2016 Local Government election in the state.

The state chairman of the party, Ali also said since the grievances of the party had been addressed by ODIEC, the suit had become unnecessary and wondered the motive behind the resuscitation of the suit by Ogodo.