Etudo appears as defence counsel to Chinese nationals, court insists on notice of change of counsel
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
There was a mild drama as a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday directed a Lagos lawyer Barrister Emefo Etudo who claimed to have been briefed as defence counsel to some of the Chinese nationals standing trial over alleged cybercrime and money laundering to properly file notice of change of defence counsel.
He should also serve the incumbent counsel on record before he could take over as defence counsel.
The court made the direction following the objection raised by the incumbent counsel on record B. A. Omateno Esq when Etudo announced appearance for each of the defendants before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.
However Etudo maintained before the court that he has taken over the case as defence counsel, insisting that he was in court to defend the defendants.
When asked if she was aware of the change of defence counsel, Omateno told the court that there was no notice of change of counsel served on her and no such notice before the court.
In his short bench ruling, the court held that the name of defence counsel in court record is Omateno and therefore Etudo should do the needful by filing notice of change of defence counsel and serve the incumbent defence counsel and the court.
About thirty two Chinese nationals were arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke and they all pleaded not guilty to one count charge preferred against each of them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
With the development on the issue of defence counsel, the court adjourned each of the cases to June 20 for report of plea bargain arrangement which the prosecution had earlier told the court.
