*Says Bank Acct Of The Law Firm Was In Used Before Letter Of
Administration Was Granted– Witness
The trial of two Lawyers accused of stealing from the Estate of
the Law Firm of Mogbeyi Sagay continued today at the Ikeja Special
Offenses Court.
Today at the hearing of the case against Tom Awhana, the former
Head of Chambers for the Law Office of Mr. Mogbeyi Sagay, a late
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Paul Okoro, a former lawyer in
the law firm for allegedly stealing N188.7 million and N3.6 million
respectively, belonging to the law firm of the late senior lawyer,
there were startling revelations.
The first prosecution witness, Barr Chris Okafor, who is
presently the Head of Chambers at the Law firm, during
cross-examination, by the Lead Lawyer to the First defendant, Barr.
Robert Emukpoeruo, confirmed in court that the consultant to the
estate, Prof. Itsejuwa Sagay, opened an Access bank account for the
law firm and used it for its operations even before the letter of
administration was granted to the Administrators of the Estate.
The witness testified that signatories to the account included
non-Lawyers, among them Cliff Kokogho, the accountant of the law
firm, Mr. Monima Sagay, another non-Lawyer and Prof. Itse Sagay
himself.
This raised the question as to whether non-Lawyers could join
Lawyers to run a Law firm.
The witness also testified that the Administrators of the late
SAN’s estate, including Nneka Sagay, Lawson Jack and the accountant
Cliff Kokogho, were all non-lawyers and signatories to another
account opened with Zenith bank for the law firm alongside Tom
Awhana (the head of Chamber), after their appointment. But before
then, the Zenith bank account was not operated as a result of the
demise of the Senior Lawyer. Also, the account name was changed to
the Estate of Mogbeyi Sagay after the appointment of the
administrators.
Mr. Okafor also confirmed that salaries were paid by 1st
defendant (Awhana) in cash to him and other staff members of the
firm. He said the estate pays the staff salaries through Tom
Awhana.
The witness could not give a convincing statement as to how the
estates were paying Tom Awhana and affirmed that there were
documents available in the office showing that monies came from the
estate for salaries.
He also said the first defendant claimed he used personal funds to
run the office and was aware the estate requested for expenses
report from him (Awhana).
The Lead counsel of the defendant Barr. Robert Emukpoeruo
pleaded that the case be adjourned till tomorrow 12th of September
2019 so Mr. Chris Okafor will provide the documents showing how the
estate was sending money to Tom Awhana for salaries to be paid as
it was a very important part of the defense.
Justice Mojisola Dada, after hearing from all parties involved,
adjourned the case till tomorrow 12th of September 2019 in order
for the witness to make available the requested documents.