Court fixes October 18 to continue Hearing of Obla’s Suit against EFCC over Professional Fees
Justice V.B. Ashli of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, has fixed October 18, 2018 for the continuation of hearing of a suit filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Godwin Obla, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Obla filed the suit with the number FCT/HC/CV/3220/17 last year, in order to recover his professional fees allegedly amounting to over N685 million of unpaid legal services and expenses, incurred while serving as EFCC’s prosecuting counsel.
The EFCC is currently trying Obla alongside Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia before a Lagos High Court, for alleged perversion of justice, but eyebrows have been raised, as to whether EFCC's case against him is a bid to deny him his legal fees.
In the suit, Obla is claiming payment of outstanding professional fees for the prosecution of various high-profile criminal cases on behalf of the EFCC, including the case of FRN v Raymond Omatseye.
He is also demanding fees, for the recovery of several billions worth of assets forfeited to the Federal Government through his firm.
The suit also seeks the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by his firm for the prosecution of EFCC cases, running into several millions of naira.
Hearing in this suit commenced in April, with Obla testifying.
Meanwhile, after almost two years of trial, the EFCC closed its case against Obla and Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.
They were charged with a 31-count charge, bordering on an alleged perversion of the course of justice, unlawful enrichment and forgery.
Obla’s lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, informed the court that having analysed the failure of the prosecution to establish a prima facie case against his client, he would file a no-case submission within seven days.
Mobolaji Kuti, counsel to the 1st defendant, also said his client will file a no-case submission within 14 days.
Trial commenced with the arraignment of both Defendants, on a 30-count Information on November 28, 2016.
In the period between the arraignment and the closure of the Prosecution’s case, the Prosecution had applied to the court for adjournment on at least five occasions, ostensibly to call more witnesses.
On some occasions, the Prosecution’s witnesses, did not appear in Court on the dates fixed by the Court.
The pattern adopted by the Prosecution in calling its witnesses, earned the ire of the defence team, who described it as “trial by installments”. On at least one occasion, the defence had alleged that the style of seeking adjournments to call one witness, was tantamount to the persecution of the Defendants.
There have been claims that Obla’s trial, is a bid to deny him his legal fees.