By INNOCENT ANABA
A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Victor Otuyemi, has lost his legal battle to stop the Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ikeja branch, from investigating him on allegation of N5 million frauds, levelled against him by a business woman, Mrs. Titilayo Okuyiga.

Dismissing the suit, the trial judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, said the suit lacked merit and the prayers of the applicant could not be granted.

The court said, “I have carefully considered the application by the applicant, with affidavit in support of the motion, including the written address and at the same time peruse the replies of the respondents including all the evidence attached in support of their claims.

“The issue for determination is whether or not to grant the order of certioraris and whether or not the NBA lack jurisdiction to investigate the applicant, as being prayed for by Otuyemi”.

“With all the evidence placed before the court, including many authorities cited by both parties, I am quite convinced that the legal body’s action to investigate Otuyemi is not in conflict with criminal matter pending before a Federal High Court besides, the Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the NBA, Ikeja branch, has jurisdiction to look into the petition by Mrs. Okuyiga against the applicant.

“I hereby dismissed the suit with cost in favour of the respondents. I award cost of N10, 000 each to one to fourth and fifth respondents,” the court said.

Otuyemi had asked the court among other reliefs to declare that the four respondents in the suit, namely Mr. A. Olatunji, Mr. A. Lawal, Mrs Fausat Bakare and Mr Bayo Oludele, who are members of the Disciplinary committee set up by the NBA lacked jurisdiction to hear the case against him.