There have been claims recently that Femi Gbajabiamila, majority leader of the House of Representatives, was charged to court and found guilty of breaching the rules of the bar of Georgia state in the US.
Gbajabiamila, also reportedly, admitted to withholding $25,000 his client received as damage to personal injury claims and was prosecuted before the Supreme Court of Georgia in February, 2007.
The lawmaker, who is contesting for speaker of the house of representatives, has been recently accused with allegations of fraud.
Although his campaign organisation on Wednesday denied such claims, staging that Gbaja has neither been accused of corruption nor convicted in the U.S, Nigeria or anywhere in the world.
In a late Wednesday report, Sahara Reporters has uploaded a copy of the judgement of the supreme court of Georgia, detailing Gbajabiamila’s case.
The judgement read: “This disciplinary matter is before the Court on the Respondent Femi Gbaja’s Petition for Voluntary Discipline which was filed under Bar Rule 4-227 (b) (2) before a formal complaint was issued. In his petition, Gbaja admits violating Rule 1 .l 5 ( l) of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct set forth in Bar Rule 4-102 (d). Although a violation of this rule is punishable by disbarment. Gbaja requests the imposition of a 24-month suspension. He agrees. however to accept a suspension of up to 36 months. The State Bar has no objection to the acceptance of Gbaja’s petition so long as the suspension is no less than 36 months in duration.
“Gbaja, who has only been a member of the Bar since 2001. admits that he accepted payment of $25,000 as settlement of a client’s personal injury claims, deposited those funds in his attorney trust account in January 2003, failed to promptly disburse those funds to his client. withdrew those funds for his own use. closed his practice and moved out of the country. Although Gbaja ultimately paid the $25,000 to his client in 2006. he admits his conduct violated Rule HS (1) and that. as a result, he is subject to disbarment. In mitigation of his actions, Gbaja asserts that he has cooperated fully with disciplinary authorities, repaid his client, and is extremely remorseful for the consequences of his conduct. Under these circumstances, we conclude that a 36-month suspension is an appropriate sanction. Accordingly, Gbaja hereby is suspended for a period of 36 months. He is reminded of his duties under Bar Rule 4-219(c).”
