Mr.chukwunenye Nweke Vs U. S. Ekpo: Court Grants Mr. Nweke’S Request For More Time To Respond To Counter Affidavit Filed By U. S. Ekpo

By Patrick Nwosu,Abuja

U. S. EKPO was represented in court neither by himself nor a legal practitioners.

The Special Court set by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association has adjourned the case of alleged professional misconduct brought before it against U. S. Ekpo Esq by Mr. Chukwunenye Nweke to Tuesday 16th February, 2021.

The committee which held its session on 12th January, 2021, at the Abuja Appeal Court Complex was also in receipt of a letter addressed to the Chairman of the committee by U.S. Ekpo Esq, and U. S. Ekpo Esq in his letter to the committee said that he was yet to get approval from the AIG Zone 9 to appear before the committee. U. S. Ekpo Esq also on the same day sent a copy of his counter affidavit to the committee.

The chairman of the committee was poised to commence with the case amid the letter to the committee by U. S. Ekpo.

After Mr. Chukwunenye Nweke had indicated his presence in court , the committee called Mr Nweke to come over to the witness stand .

But the hearing of the matter didn’t go on when Mr. Nweke through his lawyers told the committee that he was served with a copy of the counter affidavit filed by the Respondent, U. S. Ekpo Esq, within the court premises and he needed more time to study and respond appropriately to the counter affidavit, consequently, the chairman of the committee adjourned the case to 16th February, 2021 for hearing.

The chairman of the committee said that cases brought before the committee do not take time to get readdressed and the chairman of the committee warned Mr.Nweke through his lawyers to file all necessary documents before the next adjourned date.

Nevertheless, Mr. Nweke staged a protest within the Appeal Court,Abuja, Complex against the conduct of U.S. Ekpo.

Mr. Nweke in his protest message, showcased a placard with the write-ups, ” Partial compliance with Court Order is a disobedience of court order, breach on access to natural Justice and violation of rule of law. Court Order must be obeyed in its fullness or entirety in interest of justice”.

The write ups are instigated by the facts that Court Ordered U. S. Ekpo Esq to release about 18 listed documents to Mr. Nweke,but the Respondent issued only 7 documents after being dragged to NBA by Mr. Nweke.