Lusambo loses bid to get US$600, 000 facilitation fees from Lake Oil

HIGH Court Judge Marriam Bah-Matandala has dismissed for want of prosecution the matter in which politician Bowman Lusambo sued Lake Oil Group of Companies Limited alleging that the company owes him US$600,000 being facilitation fees for its various investments.

Mr Lusambo, a former Lusaka Province Minister in the Patriotic Front (PF) government was also claiming damages for the breach of the verbal contract to be determined by the court.

In addition, he asked the High Court to order the oil company to pay damages for financial loss, pain and anguish he has suffered due to its failure to liquidate the amount in contention.

Judge Bah-Matandala however dismissed the case on grounds that he had failed to prosecute the case.

“Therefore, pursuant to order 18 rule 19 (1), the orders for directions granted herein are struck out because the plaintiff (Mr Lusambo) had not made good of the ruling dated June 21, 2023. Further that, since the plaintiff has not complied with the ruling dated June 21,2023,that is to amend the pleadings and originating summons within the specified time frame as per the ruling herein, being 14 days, which days become effective from June 21,2023 and has since lapsed on July 5,2023.,”

“Further,it has been noted that until now the plaintiff has not made good of the ruling, i find that in the interest of justice this matter ought to be dismissed for want of prosecution,” she ruled.

Mr Lusambo claimed he facilitated investment in Gulf Adventures with him to benefit five percent of the US$ 3 million investment which translates to a total sum of US$150,000.00.

He said another investment was the Lake Agro, and it was agreed that he would be paid five percent out of an investment of US$5 million which amounted to a sum of US$250,000.00. Mr Lusambo also facilitated the Kapiri dry port investment in which it was agreed that he would be paid US$200,000 as his commission.