A relation of Emeka Okoronkwo has revealed why Lagos Lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), withdrew his representation for Kennedy Nwabuoku in the land matter over which Emeka is unjustly being detained by the police.
Below are excerpts from his story:
“Femi Falana has since withdrawn from representing Kennedy in a land transaction matter between Kennedy Nwabuoku and Emeka Okoronkwo having realized that Kennedy’s claims are false and instead Kennedy is conspiring with the Nigeria Police to intimidate Emeka Okoronkwo and appropriate to himself the 50 plots of land Emeka Okoronkwo paid for.
“Emeka is now held hostage by the police. Femi’s withdrawal is to save his integrity. The police had reportedly claimed that they are acting on the orders of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo through the Inspector General with Femi Falana acting as counsel to Kennedy.
“Sometime towards the end of 2016, Kennedy’s agents approached Emeka that Kennedy needed to purchase 150 plots of land in Lagos. Emeka sourced the said land from a community with the relevant C of O. Kennedy could not pay up for the 150 plots at the appointed time he could only pay for 100 plots. Kennedy then requested that Emeka source funds and pay up for the remaining 50 plots in order not to miss the opportunity as the community was getting inpatient. Kennedy promised to refund Emeka for the 50 plots within 3 months. Kennedy did not keep to the commitment and thereafter became non co-operative and started to threaten Emeka.
“Kennedy then petitioned the IG, claiming that there was no land and that the documents he was given are fake. In turn Emeka petitioned the EFCC against Kennedy with respect to the 50 plots. Upon the police intervention, an agreement of accord and satisfaction was reached between both parties. The police then invited Emeka to come and sign the agreement, it was there in Emeka’s lawyers office that he was arrested on the 8th of November without a warrant. The police now claim that Kennedy wants a full refund of his money, but has refused to release the relevant documents in his possession to enable a resale of the land in question. Kennedy and the police have continued to hold onto the original documents including the C of O, Power of Attorney and other coneyancing covering the total 150 plots of land since February 2017, whereas he paid for only 100 plots.
“A surveyor has since been sent to reconfirm the existence of the land and there is a surveyors report attesting to the existence of the land. There is also a Certified True Copy of the C of O from the Lagos Land Registrar.
“On the 10th of November, 2017, the police applied to a magistrate court for a warrant to keep Emeka for 30 days. The magistrate granted it, even though there was no charge before her. Since then, all interventions and overtures for a resolution has been blocked by the police with a claim that it is acting on instructions of Femi Falana purportedly acting for Kennedy.
“However, Femi Falana has reportedly said it is not a criminal case and that the police has no basis for keeping Emeka and at worst should grant him administrative bail. Out of frustration of the underhand dealings between Kennedy and the police, Femi Falana withdrew from the case. The police is now manipulating the court processes to continue to keep Emeka on the orders of Kennedy (another private citizen)- the main reason Femi Falana withdrew from the case.”