HealthPlus: Court adjourns case as legal representation becomes an issue

Justice Remi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi has adjourned till October 20, 2020 the case filed by the Founder of HealthPlus, Mrs. Bukky George against six other respondents. The respondents in the case are HealthPlus Limited, HealthPlus Africa Holdings Limited, Dr. Ayo Salami, Ms. Afsane Jetha, Mr. Zachary Fond and Mr. Deji Akinyanju, in that order.

In what appeared to be a mild drama, two counsel announced their appearance for the first defendant which is HealthPlus Limited, when the case was called. The first to announce his appearance was Mr. Alex Mouka from A. Mouka and Co while Mr. Chucks Nwachukwu of Indemnity Partners also mentioned his appearance on behalf of the first respondent. 

Dr. Ekwueme from Olaniwun Ajayi LP represented the 2nd, 4th and 5th respondents. 

Due to the ensued drama in court regarding who had the authority to represent the first Respondent, the judge decided that the hearing may not go ahead until the issue of representation was first sorted.

To determine the rightful representation of the first respondent, the judge called on the representative of the first respondent in the matter, Mrs. Tolu Oni to physically identify her legal counsel. She specified that A. Mouka and Co are the legal representative of the Company, a pronouncement that was resisted by Nwachukwu of the Indemnity Partners.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Oguntoyinbo instructed both counsels to file written addresses to effectively determine the rightful representative of the first respondent. The judge therefore fixed October 20, to determine the matter while November 4, 2020 was fixed for the main hearing, but no injunction was granted.

The judge however implored all parties to maintain the level of professionalism required in this matter and avoid bringing in “extraneous parties” whose activities and actions may incapacitate the processes of the court, leaving the court with nothing to determine.

It would be recalled that the Board of HealthPlus Limited on September 25, 2020 announced a change in the management of the Company. Chidi Okoro, a former Managing Director of GSK Consumer Nigeria Place joined the company as the Chief Transformation Officer while the appointment of Mrs. Bukky George was terminated as the Chief Executive Officer.