Action Alliance: Court awards #1million cost against Adeyemi's counsel

The Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Thursday awarded the sum of #1million cost against Mr Bolarinwa Lawal, counsel to Dr Samuel Adeyemi who is a defendant in a suit instituted by the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in Ogun State, Hon Awofala Awolola Awoniyi.

Awofala had approached the court to challenge the choice of Adeyemi as the governorship candidate of the AA in Ogun State in the next year's governorship election but two counsels represented the AA at the court.

While the cousel that represented Hon Adekunle Rufai Omoaje's faction of the party was armed with Court of Appeal judgments, that of the Kenneth Udeze's faction allegedly presented fraudulent judgment of the High Court before the court.

This development prompted the court to award the cost against the counsel that represented Udeze's faction of the party.

Also joined in the suit marked FHC/AB/CS/120/2022 is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Abdulmalik who presided over the court also dismissed the application for change of counsel filed by the defendant.

Counsel to Adeyemi, Mr Bolarinwa Lawal had applied for change of counsel representing the party, but the trial judge, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed his application.

Justice Abdulmalik in his ruling held that the FCT High Court judgment is being appealed at the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal.

He also made reference to the recent Court of Appeal judgment in Appeal number CA/ABJ/879/2021 which affirmed the suspension/expulsion and non recognition of Mr Kenneth Udeze as the national chairman of the AA.

The court held that the Court of Appeal judgment that upheld the suspension and expulsion of Udeze and his non recognition as AA national chairman has not been appealed.

He declared that the Court of Appeal judgment is superior to the judgment of the FCT High Court.

He thereafter adjourned the case to 21st September, 2022 for definite hearing.