2 SAN Fight Over Jonah Jang's NGF Case

Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria yesterday fought over who should represent Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State and two others on a case filed by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State over the leadership crisis in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) at an Abuja Federal High court

Fashola had approached the court, following the crisis which broke out last month after the NGF’s election and the claim by  Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Jang to have won the election.

Fashola was seeking, among others, an order restraining Jang from parading himself as NGF chairman, on the grounds that Amaechi won the election.

He also wanted an order restraining Osaro Onaiwu from acting as the forum’s sole administrator.

Named as defendants were Jang,  Asishana Bayo Okauru (forum’s director-general), Onaiwu and the forum’s registered trustees.

When the matter came up on Tuesday, the inability of Paul Erokoro and Tayo Oyetibo to agree on who should represent Jang and Onaiwu, and similar disagreement between Awa Kalu and F. N. Nwosu on who should represent the registered trustees stalled proceedings.

At the mention of the case, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, accompanied by Femi Falana, announced appearance for the plaintiff, while Oyetibo announced for Jang and Onaiwu as Erokoro also announced for the same parties.

While Kalu announced for Okauru and the trustees, Nwosu also announced appearance for the same.

The claims by Oyetibo and Erokoro to be appearing separately for Jang and Onaiwu and Kalu and Nwosu to be appearing separately for the trustees brought about argument that lasted about 30 minutes.

Justice Peter Affen advised the counsel to resolve the disagreement amicably, adding that “we are in the spotlight again, both the Bar and the Bench. We should not allow acts that will further erode from our credibility,” while he adjourned the case till July 3.