In what is a dramatic turn of attitude, the Federal Government may have opted for a more aggressive stance regarding the Modern Day Slavery case against Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in a UK court.
Underlying this new stance, according to authoritative sources in Abuja and London, is the understanding that offering all decent support and legal backing to the Senator is only the right course of action as he is deemed innocent until proven otherwise in a case deemed bailable by lawyers.
The first indication of this new attitude is the approval from the Federal Government that the Nigerian High Commission should hire a distinguished Queen’s Counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Oba Nsugbe, as Ekweremadu’s defense attorney in the case, QT can now confirm.
Although Ekweremadu’s family had earlier indicated interest in the Queen’s Counsel, the Nigerian High Commission will now be taking over the payment of his fees as he is now being retained for the Senator by the Nigerian Federal Government.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Senate in a resolution after the arraignment of the Senator in June earlier this year, had called on the FG to support the suspected senator.
The Nigerian upper legislative chamber, to which Ekweremadu belongs, made a resolution at its sitting on June 29, requesting the Nigerian High Commission in London to assist the senator.
Also recently, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, speaking at the Presidential Villa during the weekly Presidential Press Briefing, hinted on what might be the involvement of the FG in the case.
During the briefing two Thursdays ago, Malami disclosed in a recent interview that efforts are on by the FG; and its agencies and offices have been deployed to assist the senator.
Speaking in the chat with State House Correspondents on August 11, Malami said; “that there have been in existence, mutual legal assistance requests and collaboration between Nigeria and other countries across the world.
“So, to this end, I want to state that we will address the request if there is such a request, on the part of senator Ekweremadu.”
Speaking further, Malami said; “I can remember very well, there was a request, which was passed through my office but sealed and meant for delivery to the crime agency in the UK at the instance of the distinguished senator, which request I am not in a position to comment on because what relates to my office was a simple transmission.
“So, the implication of what I’m trying to state in essence is we have mutual legal assistance, understanding with the UK, and whichever of the agencies, either the senator as an accused or suspect or indeed the agencies in the UK, make any request for international support, we will respond accordingly.”
But the AGF confirmed that the embattled senator had made such a request indeed.
The lawyer the FG has now retained as the defense counsel to Ekweremadu in the case is one of the two Nigerians who are well known Queen’s Counsels in the UK. Besides Nsugbe, the other is Professor Fidelis Oditah QC, SAN.
About Nsugbe
The profile of Nsugbe, according to the website of his law firm in the UK, Pump Court Chambers stated that he is “regarded as a leading practitioner in the UK and Nigeria. Oba Nsugbe QC, SAN, has a broad international practice focussing on Africa related litigation and dispute resolution.
“He provides high-level advice and representation for individuals, corporate clients and other organisations, (including NGOs), in matters ranging from business crime and corrupt practices to contractual and corporate disputes. His ongoing international work includes advising the Swiss Government in its case against Nigeria before ITLOS, acting as joint lead Counsel for two US companies in only Nigeria’s second case at ICSID, and Counsel in a multi-jurisdictional claim for families of multiple victims of the Dana Air Crash in Lagos in 2012.
“He advised and appeared for the Lagos State Government in arbitral proceedings instituted against it, following the collapse of Enron and the termination of various related contracts entered into by the State. Oba has also provided expert advice and evidence on issues of Nigerian law to a wide range of institutional, corporate and individual clients ranging from the Treasury Solicitors to leading City firms and business entrepreneurs.
“Called to the Bar in 1985, when Oba took silk in 2002 aged only 39, he was described in a leading law commentary as “a rising star of the Bar of England and Wales.”
“He commands considerable respect from both clients and peers.
“Numerous entries in Chambers and Partners over the years have described him as “a first-class advocate” as well as “a true gentleman who deserves his fabulous reputation”, adding that he has a “fine forensic mind” and is admired for his “technical excellence.”
“Contributors to the directory have also remarked that he is “fabulously personable, easygoing, and adored by judges and juries”, “works extremely well in a team” and “impresses interviewees with his calm and genial manner.”
In February 2021, he was recognised as one of Africa’s top 30 arbitrators in Africa’s Arbitration Power list Awards administered by the Africa Arbitration Academy.”