Debt Allegation: Omotola’s counsels fined for delay

OThe case of breach of contract involving a Lagos based up and coming lawyer, Mr. Keshi Elvis of Megafield Solicitors and Nollywood actress,  Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, holding at Ikeja Magistrate court is due to come up on Tuesday, July 9, 2013.
HVP  exclusively reported the story in September, 2012 when the claimant went to court to seek redress.  It would be recalled that Mr. Elvis went to court to demand for the balance of his retainership agreement for 2010 (N150,000) and the retainership agreement for 2011 ( 200,000) as well as fee for services rendered between this period which amounted to N1,150,000.
However, in a counter affidavit from Omotola’s counsel, Festus Keyamo , and which was made available to HVP , the actress admitted owning the complainant the sum of N350,000, and not N1,150,000″as claimed.
When the case opened for hearing last March, Omotola’s counsels on behalf of Redhot Concepts Limited and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde filed preliminary objections, arguing that  going by the Legal Practitioner’s Act, a legal practitioner who wants to file action for charges against a client is expected to commence same through the High Court of the state where the legal practitioner carries on his practice or where the client resides.

Their argument which relies on Section 19(1) of the Legal Practitioner’s Act was soon dismissed by the Court when the said Mr. Keshi Elvis put forward the same Act Section 16(1) which states that a legal practitioner can commence action for the recovery of his charges from any court of competent jurisdiction.
Meanwhile the court in its summation admonished Omotola’s counsels for lack of disregard for the court and thus awarded the cost of N20,000.00 against them for delaying proceeding on the matter.
However, contrary to Omotola’s initial position that she was only owning Mr. Keshi Elvis, the sum of  N350,000 only. The defence counsels on behalf of the screen diva have already admitted owning N430,000 while the claimant’s position still holds at  N1,150,000 with  interest at 21% from 2010 till final liquidation of the money.The matter has been adjourned to the 9th of July, 2013 for hearing