The court faulted the authorities for relying on a fresh EFCC report dated August 14, 2024, which alleged that the lawyer had fraudulently obtained court judgments relating to his professional fees. According to reports of the judgment, Belgore found that the report contradicted earlier investigations conducted by the EFCC and the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2016.
The judge held that the authorities should have challenged the existing court decisions through appropriate legal procedures rather than attempting to undermine them through a subsequent investigation.
The dispute concerns Iseghohi-Edwards’ engagement by the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to provide legal services relating to the London/Paris Club refunds. The court found evidence of an agreement between the lawyer and ALGON, including terms renegotiated in open court on September 15, 2016.
Justice Belgore also upheld the validity of 10 promissory notes issued under a Federal High Court order requiring the Federal Government to meet its payment obligations to the lawyer. The notes were issued during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In granting most of the reliefs sought by Iseghohi-Edwards, the court held that actions taken against him in connection with the dispute had violated his fundamental rights. It consequently ordered that the EFCC report be set aside and issued restrictions against further investigative and enforcement actions relating to the same matter, as specified in the judgment.
The ruling marks a significant development in the long-running legal dispute surrounding consultancy and legal fees associated with the London/Paris Club refunds. However, the judgment concerns the specific claims and proceedings before the FCT High Court and should not be interpreted as resolving every separate dispute connected to the refunds.
Reporting by TalkNaija Media
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