A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja today has retained Prince Ajibola Oluyede as the counsel to Ogun State Executive Committee of the People’s Democratic Party.
Hon. Samson Bamgbose and three others, Bimbo Lanre-Balogun, Segun Awoyemi and Mulikat Kusimo appeared as necessary parties in the suit filed by the national leadership of the party at the behest of Hon. Ladi Adebutu against the erstwhile state Executive Committee led by Chief Adebayo Dayo.
It would be recalled that Bayo Dapo has earlier written a 30th March, 2020 purportedly debriefing Oluyede as counsel to the state’s party executives.
Consequently, this move was however challenged by Bamgbose and others who retained Oluyede as their counsel through their counter letters of 31st March, 2020 and 8th April, 2020 respectively.
While ruling, the court granted the application of interested parties seeking to be joined as defendants in the matter (Balogun Awoyemi and Kusimo).
The court however affirmed that Oluyede would continue to act as council to the Ogun State PDP Exco while Odugbesan would serve as counsel to Adebayo Dayo.
This court decision would afford Bayo Dayo and his cohorts to collude with Ladi Adebutu group to have a smooth said against Bamgbose-led State Executive.
The court however adjourned the filed case till 30th June, 2020 for hearing.
Similarly, counsel to the petitioner, Hon. Samson Bamgbose and three others in a letter addressed to the state chairman said…
Dear Chief Bamgbade and State Exco,
The matter came up today before Justice Mohammed of Abuja Division FHCT.
As you know we had several applications for you and other members of the Exco pending.
The Plaintiff’s lawyer desperate for the case to go on first made a proposal that the parties seeking to be joined should be joined in their personal capacity and the matter proceed to substantive hearing with ADEBAYO DAYO representing the State Exco.
I rejected the proposal and made a counter proposal that you and others be joined for yourselves personally and representing other members of Exco apart from ADEBAYO DAYO who can stay on as a party in his own personal capacity.
After much back and forth the court eventually proposed that you and others be joined for yourselves and representing other members of the Exco so that ADEBAYO DAYO remains for himself and can retain his separate lawyer (Odugbesan) whilst I represent the seven of you now joined as representing yourselves and other members of the Exco.
We all agreed with the judge’s proposal (which was my proposal anyway).
The court then joined 7 of you for yourselves and representing other members of Exco.
ADEBAYO DAYO will remain as 1st Defendant in his personal capacity and represented by his lawyer whilst I will represent the 7of you.
Regards.
