Representation stalls hearing In E-Customs Concession Project Suit against FG

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

Hearing in the suit filed by the E-Customs HC Project Limited and Bionica Technologies Limited against the Federal Government, Tuesday, stalled over a dispute on legal representation.
Asides FG, Attorney-General of the Federation(AGF) Finance Minister, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Nigeria Customs Service, Trade Modernization Project limited , Huawei Technologies limited, African Finance Corporation and Bergman Security Consultant and Supply limited as 1st to 9th defendants respectively.
The prosecution is before now, through Ahmed Raji SAN, is challenging the alleged illegalities introduced into a concession agreement by the NCS under the former Comptroller General ,Col. Ahmed Ali rtd.
However at Tuesday’s proceedings before Justice Inyang Ekwo, another counsel, Pius Nnoli announced appearance for E-Customs HC Project LTD, as against the representation of the senior lawyer.
The bid by Nnoli to take over was vehemently opposed by Ahmed Raji on the ground that he is the lawful counsel engaged by the company.
Tuesdays proceedings, however, ran into a hitch when Nnoli informed Justice Ekwo that the senior lawyer had filed a counter affidavit against his attempt to represent E-Customs HC Project Limited, as counsel for the company being the first plaintiff.
He said that the counter affidavit served on him in the court room was voluminous and that he needed time to peruse through and file a formal reply to it.
Nnoli subsequently pleaded with Justice Ekwo to grant him a short adjournment to enable him to file his reply and display the instrument with which he was engaged by his client.
Upon an enquiry by the court, Raji SAN, confirmed that Nnoli was served in the court room with the counter affidavit to his claims of being a lawyer in the suit.
Justice Ekwo in a brief remark thereafter held that it is right to give Nnoli time to respond to the counter affidavit
Based on no objections from lawyers in the suit,Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned hearing in the suit till Thursday, October 26 2023
The two aggrieved companies, E-customs HC Project Limited and Bionica Technologies (West Africa) Limited had jointly sued the Federal Government to challenge the alleged unlawful and fraudulent concession of the E-custom project to African Finance corporation.