An Issele-Uku-based legal practitioner, Chief Meribe Nnamdi has been threatened with a petition to face disciplinary action 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 Onybadi, 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. Onybadi 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, the 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, Ogbeutu quarters belongs him, a Priest of the Issele-Uku Catholic Diocese and also a native of Ogbeutu quarters in Issele-Uku, stating that every person farming on the said land to vacate as the High Court of Justice Delta State and the Police High Command in Abuja had declared the Reverend Father Onyebadi as the owner.
