Agbakoba, Babalakin in Court Brawl as Judge Vacates Order on Seizure of MMA2, Other Assets

It was a full blown drama monday at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos as a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), and Chairman of Bi-Courtney Group, Mr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), engaged in a brawl at the resumed hearing of a debt recovery suit between Babalakin and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The altercation almost degenerated into fisticuffs between the two senior lawyers but for the prompt intervention of other lawyers including Wale Akoni (SAN) and Abiodun Layonu (SAN).

Trouble started when Justice Ibrahim Buba upturned an earlier order made by another judge of the court, Justice Okon Abang, empowering AMCON to take over the assets of Babalakin’s companies, including Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

The judge described the action of AMCON as nothing but that of a party that felt that a court could only bark but not bite.

The judge added that it was clear from the processes before the court that Justice Abang was misled by AMCON to grant the interim orders, having failed to notify the court of the existing orders.

The judge then vacated the order of Justice Abang and held that it was clearly an abuse of court process.

However, Justice Buba advised the parties to reach an out-of-court settlement.
He said: “I don’t want to talk much on this matter but I wonder if lawyers cannot resolve their disputes amicably.”

The matter was subsequently adjourned to December 9 for mention.
Babalakin, who was seated in his black Toyota Land Cruiser within the court premises throughout the proceedings, came out at the same time Agbakoba emerged from the court.

Agbakoba then looked at Babalakin and said: “Wale, give me my money. I will collect my money from you and that’s final.”

Responding, Babalakin threatened to come after Agbakoba.
Pointing at Agbakoba, Babalakin said: “Why do you want to ruin me. You want to kill my businesses, I will never allow you.”

Agbakoba then angrily retorted: “You this small lawyer, when did you start practising, sef (exclamation in pidgin English)? I am 40 years at the bar, and so you are too small for me.”

As the two lawyers exchanged hot words, Akoni and Layonu intervened and brought the situation under control.

However, expressing satisfaction with the vacation order in favour of Babalakin and his companies, the management of Bi-Courtney, in a statement yesterday, said that the court’s decision was consistent with its position all along that “Agbakoba is not the receiver of MMA2 or Bi-Courtney Limited or any other company related to Bi-Courtney”.