The Customary Court of Appeal in Abeokuta has remanded two lawyers, Afolabi Madeton and Toyin Kehinde, in the Ibara Custodian Correctional Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State for lying and allegedly misleading the court.
They were both remanded while holding brief for the appellants in a case with Suit No OG/CCA/05/22 Between Micheal Josu Bamgbose & Ors (Appellants) vs Yusuf Muniru Oso Adokun & Ors.
The case was brought to the Customary Court of Appeal, following the lower court judgment on a land matter involving the appellants and the respondents earlier this year.
The lower court had ruled in favour of the respondents ordering the appellants to vacate the said land issue.
But the appellants were not satisfied with the lower court decision and later approached the Customary Court of Appeal for redress.
On many occasions, the two lawyers avoided serrvice of court processes, including counter-affidavits and other court papers filed by the appellants.
Drama however ensued when the case was brought up before the appellate court panel led by the President, Ogun State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Mobolaji Ojo, Justice P. O Akinsinde and Justice Adebiyi Odugbesan.
Lawyer to the appellants, Afolabi Madeton and Toyin Kehinde denied ever being served court papers by the respondents.
But the lawyer to the respondents presented to the court, photo evidence showing Barrister Madeton receiving the court papers from the bailiff on behalf of the appellants.
During cross-examination, it was discovered that Madeton received the court papers in Toyin Kehinde’s name.
This incident infuriated the sitting judges led by Justice Mobolaji Ojo who ordered the appellant’s lawyers to be remanded in the Correctional Centre till the weekend.
When contacted, an NBA officer at Ota Branch confirmed the development, saying that the Chairman of the Ota Branch of the NBA is working to resolve the issue and have constituted a committee on the issue.
He added that he is expecting a feedback from the Committee on what actually transpired.
