By Abraham Olatokunbo
A counsel, Barrister Edafekure, was in the “hot soup”
of a Benin High Court over a seeming misrepresentation of the court’s position on an Exparte motion seeking stop some members of PDP from attending last weekend’s convention of the party.
In the Originating Summons filed by Mr. Imasuen Unigue (Claimant) against PDP and 12 others which include Mr. Osaro Nosa Isereromon (Uhumwonde LGA); Mr. Felix Onaiwa (Ovia-South West LGA); Hon. Andy Ikhagangbe (Esan West); Mr. Clifford Inegbedion (Esan North); Mr. Lawrence Odiase (Esan West LGA) Mr. Mathew Mutana Ebhotem (Esan Central LGA); Mr. Abdulkarim; Mr. Frank Kayode Ogunubi (Akoko-Edo); Mr. Leslie Ebosoje (Owan East); Mr. Vincent Ekpemen Umoru (Etsako East LGA); Hon. Adbulkaremen Kassim (Etsako East Central) and PDP (Defendants) came up today November 3rd, 202, before the Edo State High Court No. 8 for mention.
The Claimant, represented by Edafekure (Mrs) while the Defendants were represented by Anderson U. Asemota of Counsel.
The Court drew Counsel’s attention to a social media publication alleging that the court granted an Exparte Order of Injunction against the PDP and the 1st -12th Defendants.
The Hon. Judge, Justice Joy Okeaya-Inneh, who was furious and infuriated by the said publication and/or posting denied ever making such order of injunction whilst maintaining that the exparte application filed by the Claimant before it was refused as can be gleaned from the court record and then wondered where on earth the claimant got their purported injunction from.
Court then ordered the Claimant’s counsel to address it on how they came about the said injunction now making rounds on pages of the social media as she did not issue nor sign any order of injunction in the suit.
Claimant’s counsel however could not address the court on the subject as she maintained that she was neither aware nor a party to such luciferous and satanic publication even though she was the one who took the said exparte application for the Claimant.
The Hon. Judge who was ready to dock the counsel, insisted that the court would not condone such act as the same was borne out of mischief and tailored towards bringing the Court into disrepute by tarnishing, smearing, besmirching and smudging her image before the public.
The Claimant’s counsel, who entreated and pleaded with his Lordship for mercy, continue to assert that she was not aware of the said publication and/or posting made on pages of the social media.
The Court then requested to see her Principal in Chambers whom counsel claimed was engaged outside jurisdiction.
Court stated it would not allow anybody in whatever form or guise to smudge her name and bring the court into disrepute for their own personal egoistic and political propensity.
Defendants’ counsel took out a minute or two to apologize to his Lordship as per the unsavoury occurrence, reminding the court that the same scenerio played out in a similar case in court yesterday.
Counsel noted that the act in itself was contemptuous, barbaric and despicable and capable of completely damaging the reputation of the court in the eyes of the lay public.
Defendants’ Counsel further warned that this act of misinterpreting and misrepresenting orders/rulings of the court has to stop as the court is the last hope of the common man and the Bar would not allow anybody in any form or guise to desecrate the sacredness of our legal altar but however prayed and requisitioned the court to temporize and observe peaceful hiatus so that counsel in court would have the rare privilege of inviting her principal and/or those who made the publication to appear in court and disclose their source.
A senior counsel, Edeki of Counsel who was in court also intervened and supplicated his Lordship to wait until the Principal in chamber appear in court on the next adjourned date.
Court then adjourned to November 10th, 2021 and ordered counsel to come with her Principal-in-chambers on the said adjourned date.
