Plateau Lawyers Drag 16 Lawmakers To Court Over 50 Million Unpaid Professional Fees Incurred During Election Tribunal

Yakubu Busari

The Plateau State House of Assembly Members have been dragged before a state High Court sitting in Jos Division over non-payment of 2023 general elections that led to their appeal court judgment.

 The All Progressives Congress (APC), including the opposition parties who earlier approached the election tribunal seeking the interpretation of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, state Congresses on no structure could not settle their client’s even aftermath their victory.

The combined team of lawyers now are in   the State High Court, over their unpaid N50 Million Professional Fees to their Counsels, since the appeal court judgment that favour them.

The following members are ,Hon. Nimchak Abel Nansak, Hon. Maiyaki Theodor Bala, Hon. Eli Bako Ankala, Hon. Bendal Nancwat, Hon. Yusuf Dickson Chollom, Hon. Adamu Abdul Yanga, Hon. Laven Denty Jacob and Eight other Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly (PLHA), as the counsels are worried with attitude displayed by the members.

The Claimants, Leo M. Ebi Esq, M. S. Salihu Esq, Emmanuel Hassan Esq Adaeze C. Akonani Esq, and Emmanuel Yokpe Esq (Suing for themselves and on behalf of the legal practitioners representing the Defendants in the post Judgment application, in 2024 in the Federal High Court, Jos Division) are asking the Court to also order the Members to pay additional N15 Million for the Fees they charged them for the prosecution of this claims  against PDP as defendant .

According to the Writ issued by Mustapha I. Abubakar (SAN), dated 28th April 2025, the Claimants are asking the Court to order that the Defendants pay 10 Percent Interest on the Post Judgment Proceedings (Originating Summons), “PDP Vs SPEAKER, PLATEAU STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY”, which was heard at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Jos Division, from the date of Judgment to liquidation.

In a new development, however, the Court has granted an Order of Substituted Service for the Claimants.

The Judge in his ruling on the application said, “I have carefully considered the reliefs sought and the supporting Affidavit as well as the exhibit attached and the written submission of Counsel. Same is hereby granted as prayed”.

According to the Order, the processes are to pasted at the gate of the Plateau State House of Assembly (PLHA) at No: 2A Gomwalk Road Jos, Plateau State.

Secondly, that the service on the 1st to the 3rd Defendants, can be done via Social Media, “WhatsApp”, through their registered phone numbers.

However, efforts to speak to the members prove abortive as they didn’t reply all text messages sent to them for clarification.