Fani Kayode: Williams, Keyamo trade accusations over publication of court documents

By Yemi Banjo - 15.04.2009

Counsel to former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Chief Ladi Rotimi-Williams (SAN), and the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Festus Keyamo are now trading accusations over the publication of some processes filed in court in connection with the trial of the former minister.

Chief Williams had about two weeks ago petitioned the judge handling the trial, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, in which he said it was procedurally wrong for Keyamo to avail the media of the agency’s Notice of appeal on a recent ruling without serving him a copy of the document.

Keyamo, in his reaction to the petition, said that it was true that the notice of appeal in question was filed by his chambers.

He said “when a process of court is filed in the registry, it becomes a public document to which everyone can have access upon the payment of the requisite fees.”

He explained that “the counsel who files the process (like those from our chambers in this case) only pays for service but does not serve the processes personally and it is not in control of when exactly the other side will be served, even when you make all arrangements with the court bailifs.”