One of Delta-born legal actors, Omonade Matthew, Esq., has dedicated a court victory he secured for his client to his late father, Michael Onodjeta Omonade, whom he described as his “best friend”.
Barr. Omonade, said his decision to dedicate the victory to his patriarch father, though late, was to remember him for the life he lived.
A post he made on his Facebook page on Thursday August 19th 2021, he expressed gratitude to God for seeing him through the case six years after of legal battle.
Read his post below:
My best day ever as a lawyer.
A few years ago, I made up my mind to study law because of the injustice my father suffered in the hands of his employer. My father died without getting justice.
In 2013, a Nigerian who is resident in the United States of America, decided to come invest in his home state, Rivers State, Nigeria. He contracted a company for the construction of 35 Luxury Flats consisting of Eighteen (18) Units of two (2) Bedroom Flats, Sixteen (16) Units of Three (3) Bedroom Flats and One (1) Unit of Six (6) Bedroom Flats and they both settled for $2,754,000.00 (Two Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Four United States Dollars). He paid $2,203, 200.00 (Two Million, Two Hundred and Three Thousand, Two Hundred United State dollars) being 80% of the contract sum and was meant to pay the balance upon completion of the buildings. A popular bank raised the Advance Payment Guarantee (APG).
Some how, the Nigerian Conractor and the Bank tried to be funny and delayed the completion of the job, infact did not do 1% of job and attempted to divert the money. The contractor tried to argue that our client is even the one owing the contractor. They raised all sorts of legal issues. Our client gave up hope and regretted ever coming home to invest. He said he was advised never to come to Nigeria to invest.
I took up the challenge to correct his impression about Nigeria and to make him believe in the limitless opportunities in our Country. I made him understand that there are still good people in our Country.
After about six (6) years of intense legal fireworks, Hon. Justice A. Enebeli of the Rivers State High Court of Justice, Port-Harcourt Judicial Division, today the 19th day of July, 2021, delivered judgment in our favour and ordered a return of the full contract sum and the rental value of the property right from 2015 when the buildings ought to have been completed till when the suit was filed running into hundreds of millions.
In the words of his Lordship, M.O Omonade, anytime you apply for Senior Advocate of Nigeria, please do well to inform me, I will gladly recommend you.
Our Client called from the USA to say, his hope and love for Nigeria has been revamped and expressed is willingness to proceed with the project.
I dedicate this judgment in remembrance of my late father and best friend, Michael Onodjeta Omonade. Continue to rest in peace Papa.
