By Amos Aliyu
A fresh crisis is brewing in the National Assembly over the payment of legal fees arising from the case instituted by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Udughan.
The dispute was triggered by a letter from Ojukwu Chikaosolu, SAN, the legal luminary who represented the Senate President in the matter. In the correspondence addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senior Advocate demanded full payment of his “professional fees” for services rendered in the suit.
It was gathered that the tone of the letter irked the management of the National Assembly.
In response, the Directorate of Legal Services, acting on the directive of the Clerk, rejected the claim. In a letter signed by Obi Chidinma, Esq, the Directorate stated that “it did not issue any letter of engagement or instruction retaining your firm to represent the Senate.”
The letter further stated:
“In the circumstance, the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly is unable to accept liability” and advised the SAN to “direct your request to the office from which your instruction originated for such consideration.”
Sources said the original letter of engagement for the case emanated from the Office of the Senate President.
Given the firm tone of the Senior Advocate’s demand, it is clear that fees for legal services already rendered in the Akpabio vs Natasha case remain unpaid.
The development has added a new layer of tension to the Senate, raising questions about protocol and who bears responsibility for legal costs in matters involving principal officers of the National Assembly.
