Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday granted an application by Ecobank Nigeria Limited, seeking a leave to appeal the judge’s refusal to withdraw himself from a suit filed by Honeywell Flour Mills Plc and its sister companies against the bank.
The judge had on November 17 dismissed an application by Ecobank, asking him to withdraw himself from the suit on the grounds of alleged bias and lack of confidence.
Displeased with the ruling, the bank, through its lawyer, Mr. Kunle Ogunba (SAN), appeared on Wednesday with an application seeking leave to appeal the ruling.
Arguing the application, Ogunba said his client had a constitutional right to challenge any decision of the court at the appellate court.
“The appeal is borne out of a genuine anxiety that in the light of all that has transpired in this court, we could not expect justice,” he said.
Honeywell’s lawyer, Mr. Bode Olanipekun, did not oppose the application.
“Since an appeal is a constitutional right of the applicant, we will not be opposing it,” Olanipekun said.
Ruling on the application, Justice Idris held, “Since the plaintiff’s counsel does not oppose the application, I shall, in the interest of justice, allow the application. It is granted as prayed.”
The substantive suit comes up for hearing today.
--Roluyo Hammed and Rabiu Wasiu contributed reporting.
The judge had on November 17 dismissed an application by Ecobank, asking him to withdraw himself from the suit on the grounds of alleged bias and lack of confidence.
Displeased with the ruling, the bank, through its lawyer, Mr. Kunle Ogunba (SAN), appeared on Wednesday with an application seeking leave to appeal the ruling.
Arguing the application, Ogunba said his client had a constitutional right to challenge any decision of the court at the appellate court.
“The appeal is borne out of a genuine anxiety that in the light of all that has transpired in this court, we could not expect justice,” he said.
Honeywell’s lawyer, Mr. Bode Olanipekun, did not oppose the application.
“Since an appeal is a constitutional right of the applicant, we will not be opposing it,” Olanipekun said.
Ruling on the application, Justice Idris held, “Since the plaintiff’s counsel does not oppose the application, I shall, in the interest of justice, allow the application. It is granted as prayed.”
The substantive suit comes up for hearing today.
--Roluyo Hammed and Rabiu Wasiu contributed reporting.
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