Judge awards N20,000 against Evans’ lawyer for ‘professional misconduct’

Justice Abdulazeez Anka of a
Lagos Division of the Federal
High Court Thursday
awarded a cost of N20,000
against Olukoya Ogungbeje,
counsel to suspected
kidnapper, Chukwudumeme
Onwuamadike, popularly
known as Evans.
The judge further issued a
warning to Mr. Ogungbeje to
desist from practices
unbecoming of a legal
practitioner.
The judge issued the orders
while adjourning a
fundamental rights suit filed
on behalf of Evans by Mr.
Ogungbeje, over alleged
illegal detention.
Joined as respondents in the
suit are: The Nigeria Police
Force, Lagos State Police
Command, The Commissioner
of Police Lagos State, and the
Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
Evans had sought a court’s
order directing the
respondents to immediately
charge him to court in
accordance with
constitutional provisions, if
there existed any case against
him.
In the alternative, he had
sought an order compelling
the respondents to
immediately release him
unconditionally in the
absence of any charge.
The case, which was
scheduled for hearing on
Thursday, could not proceed
as Mr. Ogungbeje, was absent
in court.
When the case was called, a
litigation officer from Mr.
Ogungbeje’s law firm,
Stephen Abunike, told the
court that his principal was
indisposed and had written a
letter