Two Lawyers Fight To Represent Accused Persons

Two counsels, Mrs. N.G. Lawani and Mrs Joy Nzube, last
Friday engaged each other in a dispute over who should represent two accused
persons who were docked at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Both lawyers, who appeared before Magistrate O. J Awope,
argued that they were asked by the defendants
Wasiu Jomoh, 39 and Waheed Kareem, 30, to represent them.

They were charged with felony, stealing and receiving stolen
property, together with another accused person, Ibrahim Ajayi, 35.

Lawani said that when the two defendants were brought to the
court, she was asked to stand in for them.

“The accused never told me that another lawyer was coming to
appear for them. I have collected N10,000 from them, “ Lawani said.

Nzube, on her part, informed the court that she was the
rightful lawyer for the second and third defendants.

She said that the defendants had called her that the case
would be coming up at the court.

“My Lord, I am surprised to see another counsel standing for
them. I am actually the counsel to Jimoh and Kareem and they are my clients, “
Nzube said.

However, the counsel to the first defendant, Mr O. Gani,
asured the court that the matter would be settled.

Gani advised them to jointly represent the accused persons.

The prosecutor, Insp Steve Molo, alleged that the defendants
with others, now at large, on June 18 at Orile stole property valued at N6.9
million.

Molo said that the defendant, who deals in iron rods, stole
122 pieces of shaka plates, 4,633 pieces of 40 x 40 angle iron and 940 pieces
of 25 x 25 angle iron.

He said that the items, which were valued N6.9 million,
belonged to one Mr Amechi Egwu.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections
122, 326 and 409 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State.

They pleaded not guilty to the offences.

Magistrate Awope granted each of them a bail in the sum of
N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case till Aug. 29 for mention.