A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted permission for the commencement of contempt proceedings against some senior lawyers engaged by the 36 States in their effort to block the payment of the $418million debt owed consultants engaged by states and Local Governments for the recovery of their share of the Paris Club debt refund.
Justice Inyang Ekwo on Wednesday, granted an ex-parte application by lawyers to one of the consultants – Panic Alerts Security Systems Limited.
Justice Ekwo ordered that the processes. in relation to the contempt suit be served on the affected lawyer through a courier service.
The court’s order was informed by complaint by lawyer to Panic Alert, Emeka Okoro that the lawyers allegedly refused to accept personal service of the court documents.
Justice Ekwo equally ordered that the motion for contempt charge be served on the senior lawyers within seven days and fixed May 26 for hearing of the motion.
The lawyers named in the documents are: Sunday Ibrahim Ameh, Jubrin Okutepa, Garba Tetengi and Olumuyiwa Akinboro (all Senior Advocates of Nigeria).
Panic Alert claimed that the lawyers who accused the lawyers engaged in wrongdoings in their service to their clients by allegedly encouraging the not to comply with a subSisting judgment of the court, empowering the Federal Government to deduct the $418m from states’ funds in the Federation Account to pay the consultants.
Panic alert claimed that the four senior lawyers allegedly placed “caveat emptor” on the judgment of the Federal High Court given on March 25, 2022.
Okoro stated that the “caveat emptor,” was intended by the alleged contemnors to impede the execution of the $418m judgment debt given against the 36 states.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, one of the lawyers named in the contempt suit, Ameh made efforts to stop the court from hearing of the ex-parte motion by Panic Laert.
Ameh argued that his clients have appealed the March 25 judgment and that the Federal High Court no longer has jurisdiction in respect of the case.
He added that the records of proceedings have been transmitted to Court of Appeal while the appeal itself has been entered and issued number.
Ameh prayed the court to refrain from taking any decision in relation to the case, an argument Justice Ekwo ignored and proceeded to take the ex-parte motion for substituted service.