A mild drama ensued at an Igbosere Magistrate Court in Lagos on Friday, when two counsels fought over the representation of two accused persons.
Both lawyers, N. Lawani and Joy Nzube, appeared before the court to represent two of the three defendants; Wasiu Jimoh, 39, and Waheed Kareem, 30.
The third defendant, Ibrahim Ajayi, 35, along with Jimoh and Kareem, were charged with felony, stealing and receiving stolen goods.
One of the lawyers, Lawani, said she had been paid N10,000 to defend two of the defendants.
“The accused never told me that another lawyer was coming to appear for them,” she added.
However, Nzube told the court that the defendants had also called to give her the job.
“My Lord, I’m surprised to see another counsel standing for them. I am actually the counsel to Jimoh and Kareem; they are my clients,” she said.
Ajayi’s counsel, O. Gani, advised the disputing lawyers to jointly represent the clients in question.
The prosecutor, Inspector Steve Molo, alleged that the defendants, along with another person still at large, stole iron rods and plates worth N6.9 million, which belonged to one Amechi Egwu.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.
Magistrate O. Awope granted each of the defendants N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the case to August 29, 2012, for mention.