An Issele-Uku-based legal practitioner, Chief Meribe Nnamdi may face disciplinary action after being threatened with a petition over alleged breach of trust, if he fails to retract his representation of a second person and opposition in same land which he facilitated the purchase.
Chief Nnamdi reportedly acted as solicitor for the Monye Nwusi Family of Issele-Uku and prepared several deeds of transfer of the land duly executed from the family (represented by Anthony Ogonna Okeleke Ashiedu and Emeka Ashiedu) to the Rev Fr. Jude Onyebadi, a farmer and Priest of the Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku sometime in 2006, 2007 and 2010, respectively.
The same Chief Nnamdi, recently, acted as a solicitor to Monye Nwusi family against the purchaser, Rev Fr. Onyebadi, who is also a native of Issele-Uku, as the lands develop legal crisis.
Recently, on October 28, 2024, Chief Nnamdi wrote a letter on behalf of Monye Nwusi family to one Etuziem Yadili, who reportedly drove round Issele-Uku, using a megaphone to announce that the land being situate and located behind Ochei Poultry Farm, Ogbeofu Quarters, Issele-Uku, belonged to the Rev Fr. Onyebadi and anybody farming there to vacate in line with a High Court decision.
Chief Nnamdi, who earlier facilitated the deed for the land on behalf of the Rev Fr. Onyebadi, requested Etuziem to retract the announcement, apologise to his clients or face legal action.
However, Prof Emiri, in a letter dated November 1, 2024, stated that it was surprising that Chief Nnamdi sought to deny Rev Fr. Onyebadi title when in fact he acted to facilitate the transaction.
“Our objective reading of the rule of professional conduct for lawyers tells that it is improper and smack of misconduct for a legal practitioner to approbate and reprobate at the same time, as you now seek to do – conferring as agent of Monye Nwusi Family, title to our client and in your correspondence of October 28, 2024, seek to deny the conferred title.
“As a member of the legal profession you should commend our clients rather than seek to use “mischief –at-law” to breed contempt, and a conduct likely to implicate professional misconduct against you.
“We seek from you, a retraction in writing of the letter and further request that you assure our clients title without reservation.
“Kindly send the retraction and assurance to the undersigned within 14 days failing which we may seek disciplinary bar action against you”, Prof Emiri, SAN, stated.
Meanwhile, Rev Fr. Onyebadi said that due to several encroachments allegedly by Ashiedu Emeka and others into the farmlands lawfully acquired from various families, including Monye Nwusi Family, they used a megaphone to announce to the whole world that all the parcel of land being situated and located behind Ochei Poultry farm, Ogbeofu quarters belongs him, a Priest of the Issele-Uku Catholic Diocese and also a native of Ogbe-Nti quarters in Issele-Uku.
He stated that every person farming on the said land to vacate as the case is in High Court of Justice Delta State and the Police High Command in Abuja.
Contacted for his reaction, Chief Nnamdi, without allowing the reporter to land, in an unpredictable voice said: “Now, the person that told you this thing, did he tell you that the matter is in Court?
“The person that told about this land transaction, the Reverend Father that told you, did he tell you that the matter is in Court?
In an erratic voice, he demanded to know the particular land involved, “let me know the land transaction please, I am going to Court. Let me know quickly.
After been briefed, he said: “that matter is in Court please. And when a matter is in Court, you don’t discuss that. Ask the person that told or you are a roving journalist, go to the High Court, Issele-Uku, to find that case”, he said.
