Kidnapper Evans: Court awards N20, 000 against lawyer

Justice Abdulaziz Anka awarded the punitive cost against him for failure to appear in court. He had, on behalf of his client, filed a N300 million fundamental rights enforcement action against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

A Lagos Federal High Court yesterday awarded N20, 000 against Olukoya Ogungbeje, counsel to Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, who has been arrested and charged for kidnapping for failing to come to court.
A vacation judge, Abdulaziz Anka, who awarded the sum also cautioned Ogungbeje to desist from acts unbecoming of a legal practitioner.
He awarded the punitive cost against him for failure to appear in court. He had, on behalf of his client, filed a N300 million fundamental rights enforcement action against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

But instead of appearing yesterday, Ogungbeje wrote to the judge requesting for an adjournment because he was sick and needed to treat himself.
Angered by the situation, Justice Anka awarded N20, 000 against him for what he described as unprofessional conduct.
He also failed to send a copy of the letter to the police counsel, Emmanuel Eze.
“It is unprofessional for a lawyer to communicate with a judge without carrying the other parties along,” he said and thereafter adjourned the matter to July 20, 2017 for further hearing.