By Solomon Ogar
The ongoing alleged sexual harassment case between the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC and Professor Cyril Ndifon of the University of Calabar has taken a new twist as the defendant, Ndifon has discovered that the ICPC is using a fake PhD holder and professor as lawyers.
Having discovered this after due diligence, Counsel to the Defendants, Chief Joe Agi, SAN has, therefore, applied for a motion on notice pursuant to Section 106 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Section 2(1) and 24 of the Legal Practitioners 2023, Section 6(6)(a)&(b) and 36 of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as Amended and under the inherent Jurisdiction of the Honorable Court.
Agi is hereby seeking for the following reliefs:
“An order of court striking out the amended charge, in this case, same being incompetent and preferred by a person whose name is not on the roll of legal Practitioners in Nigeria Pursuant to section 2 of the legal Practitioner Acts and thus robbing this Court of its jurisdiction”.
“An order of Court striking out all the appearance of Joshua E. Alobo from the prosecution Counsel for appearing as a private Legal Practitioner in a criminal case without the fiat of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation”.
“An order of Court referring both Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha and Joshua E. Alobo to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for answering and caused to printed on their process the title ‘Dr’ ‘Professor’ when they do not have the academic qualifications to show for the titles thereby misrepresenting themselves to the public and bringing legal profession to ridicule and shame”.
“And for such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances”.
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Chief Agi has urged the court to take further notice that the grounds upon which the application is brought include the following:
“The amended charge in this case is incompetent and preferred by a person whose name is not on the roll of Legal practitioner in Nigeria Pursuant to Section 2 of the Legal Practitioner Act and thus robbing this court of its jurisdiction.
“The amended charge was referred by one Dr Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, a person whose name is not on the roll of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria Pursuant to Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act.
“That Joshua E. Alobo who appears for the prosecution as Counsel as a private Legal Practitioner in a criminal case does not have the fiat of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation.
“That both Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha and Joshua E. Alobo answer in this court and cause to printed on their processes the title ‘Dr’ ‘Professor’ when they do not have the academic qualifications to show for the titles thereby misrepresenting themselves to the public and bringing legal profession to ridicule and shame.
“That a grant or allowance of this application will aid the cause of justice and also aid the mandate of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission established to fight corruption in all spheres of our nation.
The matter has been slated for hearing on 19 March 2024, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
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