Leading human rights activist, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN has dismissed an allegation that he has “apparent conflict of interest” with Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court.

In a telephone conversation with CITY LAWYER, the fiery senior lawyer debunked the allegation as “a figment of the author’s imagination,” saying that he has never met nor spoken with the jurist outside the four walls of the courtroom.

CITY LAWYER recalls that embattled Director in EDMARK Group, Mr. Maurice Anthony Etim had in a statement made available to CITY LAWYER alleged that there is “apparent conflict of interest between Justice Osiagor and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN, who represents the respondents,” adding that “I have been constrained to raise concerns about the potential lack of fairness in the proceedings due to the judge’s relationship with Adegboruwa SAN and his decisions in the case.” Adegboruwa is counsel for the respondents in the matter, Etim Maurice Anthony v Edmark City Development Company Ltd & Others.

The controversy arose following boardroom tussle and legal fireworks over EDMARK Group of Companies, with Etim urging the National Judicial Council (NJC) to probe the judge for bias.

Justice Osiagor had sensationally  stated at the last adjourned date that the “petitioner has made overtures to me, directly and indirectly, all of which I declined. May God judge the petitioner and his lawyers forever.” The jurist then recused himself from the controversial case.

On his part, Adegboruwa said: “God knows I don’t know Justice Osiagor. I don’t have his (telephone) number. I have never met him and do not know his face beyond appearing before him in court. So when someone says ‘conflict of interest,’ you need to ask him, ‘How’? What manner of conflict?”

Poking more holes in Etim’s allegation, the respected human rights lawyer stated that the petitioner also failed to provide any particulars to buttress his “phantom” claim, saying he would not dignify such with a rejoinder “since the allegation is baseless even on the face of it.”

“I won’t bother to join issues with him,” he said. “Facts are sacred. If it is not true, it is not true! So why should I bother? How many times have detractors published utter falsehood to malign me? But by God’s grace I am still here!”

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