Efio-Ita Nyok|28 June 2016|10:20am
It's now common public knowledge that the sixth democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Muhammadu Buhari, is a defendant in a legal suit challenging his eligibility to have stood for election on the basis of not having the minimum academic qualification of West African Senior Certificate (WASC).
What may not be common knowledge is, who is the plaintiff in the case, the presiding Justice and the thirteen Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) President Buhari employed to defend him?
Besides, how much is the President spending for the legal services the 13 SANs and 10 additional counsels are rendering.
Plaintiff: Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe
Presiding Judge: Justice Adeniyi Ademola
Defendant: President Muhammadu Buhari
The 13 SANs who make up Buhari’s legal team are:
*Chief Wole Olanipekun
*Lateef O. Fagbemi
*Chief Akin Olujinmi
*Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu
*Kola Awodein
*Prof. Taiwo Osipitan
*Charles Edosomwan
*Emeka Ngige
*Femi Atoyebi
*Femi Falana
*Funke Aboyade
*H.O. Afolabi
*Muiz Banire and
*10 other counsels.
In all, Buhari is employing the services of 23 legal practitioners. Besides, to engage a SAN requires the sum of N10 million. So, nothing less than N130 million for the SANs. Then, for the other 10 lawyers and the additional charges that may arise in the course of the suit, we maybe looking at an additional N50 to N70 million. So, nothing less than N180 million is going down the drain for an ordinary WASC.
Presently, the presiding Justice, Ademola, has adjourn the case indefinitely sequel to the intervention of the 23 SANs.
The question now is between calling a press conference wherein Buhari is expected to address the public either presenting his WASC or telling the Nigerians what his challenges are, and going to court with 23 counsels, nothing less than N180 million, time wastage and inciting suspicion, which is easier?
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.org (Negroid Haven)
