The legal Effect of holding brief for a fellow Counsel

By Caroline Ladidi Anze-Bishop

Following the pronouncements of the Courts in the case of MOHAMMED & ANOR v. STATE
(2015) LPELR-25694(CA), the ambiguity surrounding the principle and practice of holding the brief of a fellow Counsel has been resolved.

The legal effect of counsel announcing appearance as holding brief for a fellow Counsel has been submitted by learned Counsel for the Respondent), that any Counsel who announces that he is holding brief for another counsel is presumed to be in possession of the facts and law regarding the case, and has the full authority of the counsel, whose brief he holds, to handle the case.” Per JUMMAI HANNATU SANKEY, JCA (Pp 13 – 13 Paras A – B)