Lawyer Drags APC House Of Reps Member To Court Over N72Million In Unpaid Pre-Election Legal Fees
Jawondo claims that Saba, who was elected under the All Progressives Congress platform, owes him for services rendered in a pre-election lawsuit.
Amember of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Mr. Ahmed Adamu Saba, is facing a lawsuit filed by lawyer A.S. Jawondo (SAN) over alleged unpaid legal fees amounting to N72 million.
Jawondo claims that Saba, who was elected under the All Progressives Congress platform, owes him for services rendered in a pre-election lawsuit.
SaharaReporters learned that Saba, representing Edu Moro Patigi Federal Constituency in Kwara State, secured Jawondo’s services as his counsel during a pre-election lawsuit filed against the federal lawmaker.
In court documents obtained by SaharaReporters and filed before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, the lawyer claimed that the APC chieftain hired him to help retain his candidature from the Federal High Court to the Supreme Court but then refused to pay him the professional fees agreed upon.
The lawyer further declared that the total charges for prosecuting the matter from the Federal High Court to the Supreme Court were N81,295,000.00, and that the legislator only paid N5,700,000.
The lawyer added that despite repeated demands via WhatsApp messages, the lawmaker only paid an additional N1,000,000 on December 5, 2023, has not paid any amount thereafter.
“That despite demands and warnings, the defendant refused, failed and or neglected to settle his indebtedness to me except on 5th December, 2023, when the defendant, by a bank transfer alert, paid a sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) only out of the outstanding Professional Fees leaving a net balance of Seventy-Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N72,250,000.00) only as unpaid Professional Fees as at 5th December, 2023 which sum the defendant has refused, neglected and or failed to pay despite repeated demands,” the court document reads.
“That from the conduct and attitude of the defendant, the defendant is not interested in settling his indebtedness to me after utilizing my professional skill, expertise and services as a Legal Practitioner and as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” the lawyer informed the court.
The lawyer therefore urged the court to award a total sum of Eighty-One Million and Ninety Thousand Naira (N81,090,000.00) against the lawmakers. He described the demanded damages as the aggregate total of the balance of professional fees, balance of running/incidental expenses and Value Added Tax for legal services rendered by him to the APC chieftain.
The court document reads, “Seventy Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N72,250,000.00) only being the balance of Professional Fees for legal services rendered by the claimant to the defendant in respect of Pre-Election matter with Suit No. FHC/AL/CS/41/2022, Appeal No. CA/IL/104/2023 and Appeal No. SC/CV/156/2023; Hon. Ahmed Abubakar Ndakene V. Saba Ahmed Adamu & 2 Ors.
“Three Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N3,550,000,00) only being the balance of running/incidental expenses for legal services rendered by the claimant to the defendant in respect of Pre-Election matter with Suit No. FHC/IL/CS/41/2022, Appeal No. CA/IL/104/2023 and Appeal No. SC/CV/156/2023; Hon. Ahmed Abubakar Ndakene V. Saba Ahmed Adamu & 2 Ors.
“Five Million, Two Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand Naira (N5,295,000.00) only being total Value Added Tax on Professional Fees for legal services rendered by the claimant to the defendant in respect of Pre-Election matter with Suit No. FHC/IL/CS/41/2022, Appeal No. CA/IL/104/2023 and Appeal No. SC/CV/156/2023; lon. Ahmed Abubakar Ndakene V. Saba Ahmed Adamu & 2 Ors.”
“10% interest/Court interest on the total sum of eighty-One Million and Ninety Thousand Naira (N81,090,000.00) only from the date of Judgment until the entire sum is finally liquidated or settled,” the document adds.
SaharaReporters learned that the case was heard on Wednesday and subsequently adjourned till December 10, 2024.
