Ademola Akinyemi Louis
A businessman, Ademola Akinyemi, who is the Managing director and Chief Executive Officer of Farmcenta Global Investments Limited, has been dragged before a Lagos State High Court, over alleged failure to pay several million of Naira, being a professional fee and other expenses incurred.
Ademola, who is currently battling with multiple court cases, including a criminal charge filed against him by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, was slammed with the suit marked LA/ADR/5778/2025, by Barrister Olabiyi Ademola.
Joined as Ademola’s co-defendants are: Farmcenta Global Investments Ltd; Ademola Akinyemi; Mr. Iyke Otugo and Temitope Abiodun Akinyemi, listed in the suit as first, third and fourth defendants.
The claimant, Barrister Olabiyi is asking the court for the followings reliefs and orders against the defendants jointly and severally: “a declaration that the defendants are jointly and severally liable to the claimant in the sum of N20,000,000 (Twenty Million Naira) being the unpaid balance of the Claimant’s professional fees for all legal services rendered to the Defendants since inception to the year 2024.
“An order of this Honourable Court directing the defendants to jointly and severally pay the claimant the sum of N20,000,000 (Twenty Million Naira) being the unpaid balance of the claimant’s professional fees for all legal services rendered to the defendants since inception to the year 2024.
“An order of this Honourable Court directing the Defendants to jointly and severally pay interest on the aforesaid sum of N20,000,000 (Twenty Million Naira) at the rate of 21% per annum from 16th day July, 2024 till the date of judgment and thereafter at the rate of 18% per annually till liquidation.”
Parts of the claimant, Barrister Olabiyi aveerments in his statement of claim reads: “the defendants approached him based on his excellent track records to the satisfaction of the defendants, and retained his legal services with respect to all legal matters/actions in courts of law and other Law Enforcement Agencies In Nigeria.
“That upon the defendants’ instructions, and based on mutual understandings between parties herein, the Claimant commenced legal representations to the defendants in all Legal actions involving the defendants. And
that the legal services rendered to the defendants included but not limited to the following: “representation of the defendants in proceedings at the Magistrate Courts, State High Courts and the Federal High Courts as hereinafter listed: suit no: FHC/L/372/2023, Inspector General of Police VS Ademola Louis Akinyemi & ORS before Honourable Justice Y. BOGORO of the Federal High Court of Nigeria; Suit no: LD/13414MFHR/2022, Akinyemi Ademola Vs Inspector General of Police & 4 ORS, before Honourable Justice O. F AIGBOKHAEVBO of the High Court of Lagos State; Appeal no: CA/LAG/CV/1217/2022. Akinyemi Ademola Vs. Inspector- General of Police & 4 ORS; charge no: FRN/L/143C/2023. Inspector General Of Police Vs. Ademola Akinyemi and 1 other, before Honourable Justice Lewis-allagoa of the Federal High Court of Nigeria; Just to mention but few.
“Representation of the defendants in several actions involving the Nigeria Police Force i.e Special Fraud Unit, Force CID Alagbon, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos e.t.c.; Representation in the retrieving of the defendants’ title documents for the property at no. 2 Etsoye Close, Off Olapeti Street, Shonibare Estate, Maryland Ikeja Lagos, with plan number JOD/25/90 and Certificate of Occupancy dated 30th of November, 1991 from the Police Special Fraud Unit.”
The Claimant further made the following aveerments: “that he always ensured that the defendants’ Interest were duly protected every time, even when It required the Claimant to take an official trip to Abuja in ensuring the prompt recovery of the Defendants’ propert’es when seized by Police Special Fraud Unit, lkoyi; representation of the defendants at scheduled meetings with Jaiz Bank in facilitating and securing a major loan facility of about N400,000,000 (Four Hundred Million Naira) and many others. Facilitation and perfection of the 2nd Defendant’s bail at various times while detained at the Lagos State Correctional Centre.”
The Lawyer also stated that; “in the course of rendering due legal services to the Defendants, and upon several deliberations, considerations and negotiations regarding past and or.going legal services, parties herein negotiated at length and agreed that the sum of N50, 000, 000 (Fifty Million Naira) be paid as full and final payment of the professional fees for the past and ongoing legal services, including the recent perfection of the 2nd defendant’s bail from the Federal High Court in Charge No. FHC/L/143C/2023, and the Charge Sheet is hereby pleaded and attached herewith.
“That it was also mutually agreed by parties at the said negotiation meeting that, the sum of N20, 000, 000 (Twenty Million Naira) which was earlier deposited with the Claimant by the Defendants be converted to part payment of the agreed professional fees to enable the Claimant, promptly execute the filling and subsequent perfection of the bail granted to the 2nd defendant before Justice Lewis Alagoa of the Federal High Court.
“That consequent on the said Mutual understanding between parties, the claimant herein commenced and concluded the perfection of the 2nd defendant’s bail, and the recovery of properties as engaged. Bail application dated 27th day of June 2024 filed by the Claimant on behalf of tre 2nd Defendant is hereby pleaded and attached herewith.
“That, on the 30th day of June 2024, the 2nd defendant, further requested for a loan in the sum of N500, 000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from the Claimant on the promise that same would be refunded upon the 2nd Defendant’s release from custody. On the 3rd of July, 2024, the Claimant paid the said amount to the 2nd Defendant as requested but he has failed and/or deliberately refused to refund the money as promised, despite several demands till present. Evidence of the 2nd Defendant’s request and Evidence of payment of the sum of N500, 000 to the 2nd Defendant dated 3rd of July, 2024 is hereby pleaded and attached herewith.
“That in furtherance to the Mutual understanding between parties herein, the Claimant delivered a Letter of Demand dated 16th July, 2024 to the Defendants wherein the Claimant indicated the total agreed amount, the amount already paid by the Defendants and the outstanding being demanded in line with the agreement by parties. Letter of Demand dated 16th July, 2024 is hereby pleaded and attached herewith.
“That on the 18th day of July, 2024, before the perfection of the Bail of the 2nd defendant, he reminded the defendants about the payment in line with the letter of Demand, but the 3rd Defendant admitted via WhatsApp conversations that they were working on the. payment as requested. And that upon delivery of the said Letter of Demand on the defendants, and after the release of the 2nd defendant from custody, shockingly, the 2nd defendant visited and informed the Claimant at his office that, he had alternate ways of resolving all their pending matters and issues without needing the services of the Claimant anymore, and based on this development, a concession was granted reducing the Defendants’ outstanding balance of 30,000,000 (Thirty Million Naira Only) to $20, 000, 000 (Twenty Million Naira Only) as full and final payment of the Claimant’s professional fees.
“That upon failure or deliberate refusal of the defendants to still liquidate their indebtedness with the Claimant despite the concession sum, the Claimant further delivered the 2nd Letter of Demand dated 4th of November, 2024 to the Defendants which was received and duly acknowledged. Letter of Demand dated 4th November, 2024 is hereby pleaded and attached herewith.
“That shockingly, upon receipt of the Claimant’s 2nd Letter of Demand, the Defendants responded via a Reply Letter dated 15th November, 2024 to the Claimant, wherein the Defendants requested to schedule a meeting witn the Claimant to discuss all issues and pay a reasonable professional fee in addition to the earlier paid sum. ‘The said letter which was delivered via WhatsApp through the 3rd Defendant to the Claimant, states in the concluding paragraph: we therefore need to schedule a meeting to discuss all issues raised as we are willing to reconcile and pay you a reasonable professional fee’.
“That upon receipt of the defendants’ Reply Letter via WhatsApp, the Claimant was constrained to respond accordingly to all misguided contentions via a reply Letter dated 20th November, 2024 which was duly delivered by the claimant to the Defendants. And that despite repeated requests and demands via calls, messages and WhatsApp conversations being one of the consistent and acceptable modes of communication between parties herein, to the Claimant’s greatest chagrin, rather than scheduling a reconciliation meeting or settle all indebtedness with the Claimant, the Defendants engaged the services of another Lawyer.
“That the 3rd Defendant appreciated the efforts of the Claimant via WhatsApp chat after Bail was granted to the 2nd defendant in the matter before Justice Lewis Alagoa of Federal High Court in 2024 where he stated “a deep appreciation for what The Lord did through you yesterday. Thanks”. A Screenshot of the chat between parties herein dated 18 July, 2024 via WhatsApp is hereby pleaded and attached herewith.
“That the defendants’ act of cheating, non-performance and a breach of contract are geared towards taking undue advantage of the Claimant in spite of the professional expertise, time and resources committed by the Claimant in rendering professional services to the Defendants’ satisfaction as shown in the 2nd Defendant’s WhatsApp chat with the Claimant where he stated “Good morning, Barr. Trust you are doing great today, Sir. | want to say a big thank you for all the selfless services you have rendered to me up to this moment despite the little available resource. Thank you for your understanding, and I’m very much grateful”. The cheque dated 20th March, 2023 via WhatsApp is hereby pleaded and attached herewith.”
The claimant stayed that all relevant messages, conversations, audios and videos, WhatsApp voice-notes and screenshots relating to this suit, between him and the defendants which “Bundle O. A” and contained in the attached “USB Flash Drive” which shall be relied on at the trial of this suit.”
The defendants are yet to file any response to the suit, while not date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.
