Legal Fees: Counsel Tenders Exhibits Against Reps Member

BY AHMED TUKUR, LAFIA – The Nasarawa State High Court sitting in Akwanga has admitted 14 exhibits tendered by a legal practitioner, Mr Yakubu Hassan against a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulkarim Usman over alleged refusal to settle his legal fees for the 2019 election petition tribunal.

Hon. Usman, who represents Nasarawa Eggon-Wamba- Akwanga Federal Constituency was dragged before the court presided over by Justice Mustapha Ramat by Mr Hassan for alleged betrayal of trust and contract breach when he defended him at the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal where his electoral victory was challenged by the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate, Mr John Mark because of omission of logo.

Counsel to Hassan, Mr Mustapha Sadiq, who led him in evidence at the resume sitting of the Court tendered documents including letter from the National headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) authorizing Abdulkarim to pay the legal fees at the tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

Hassan also claimed on oath that Usman paid him N600,000 part payment out of the N14M legal fees incurred for the 2019  Election Petition Tribunal.

The lawyer also admitted recommending Barrister John Mathew as a lawyer to Usman during cross examination by the defendant counsel Mr Aliyu Anzenwo