Widow drags lawyer to law council
May 10, 2009
A Kampala lawyer, Godfrey Kibirige, has appeared before the disciplinary committee of the Law Council over professional misconduct.
By Hillary Nsambu
A Kampala lawyer, Godfrey Kibirige, has appeared before the disciplinary committee of the Law Council over professional misconduct.
Kibirige was dragged to the council by Joyce Kagudde-Mukasa, a widow of James Katubale Kagudde-Mukasa.
The charges include charging a client extortionate fees, refusing to release a client’s land titles, failure to carry out instructions after being paid for services and practicing without a certificate.
The other charges include refusing to hand over a client’s files when asked, deceiving a client into paying 1% as stamp duty on transfer of titles from the deceased’s names into those of the administrator of the deceased’s estate and threatening and intimidating the client.
It is alleged that Kibirige further billed the widow over sh2m, which prosecution led by state attorneys, Aaron Motoka and Joseph Epodoi, say was excessive.
Kibirige allegedly asked for sh54m from the widow in legal fees for processing letters of administration.
The widow, residing in Kisaasi, a Kampala suburb, said the money also covered what Kibirige referred to as “judge’s fees†when he knew that judges are not paid from litigants’ fees.
The prosecution also alleged that Kibirige filed his bill of costs in the High Court at Nakawa and insisted on representing the complainant, who had terminated his services.
If convicted, Kibirige will be struck off the list of practicing advocates, according to a member of the disciplinary committee, who did not want to be named.
However, Kibirige of Kibirige and Company Advocates denied the charges before the six-member committee chaired by Elijah Wante, who is also the director of the Law Development Centre.
A Kampala lawyer, Godfrey Kibirige, has appeared before the disciplinary committee of the Law Council over professional misconduct.
Kibirige was dragged to the council by Joyce Kagudde-Mukasa, a widow of James Katubale Kagudde-Mukasa.
The charges include charging a client extortionate fees, refusing to release a client’s land titles, failure to carry out instructions after being paid for services and practicing without a certificate.
The other charges include refusing to hand over a client’s files when asked, deceiving a client into paying 1% as stamp duty on transfer of titles from the deceased’s names into those of the administrator of the deceased’s estate and threatening and intimidating the client.
It is alleged that Kibirige further billed the widow over sh2m, which prosecution led by state attorneys, Aaron Motoka and Joseph Epodoi, say was excessive.
Kibirige allegedly asked for sh54m from the widow in legal fees for processing letters of administration.
The widow, residing in Kisaasi, a Kampala suburb, said the money also covered what Kibirige referred to as “judge’s fees†when he knew that judges are not paid from litigants’ fees.
The prosecution also alleged that Kibirige filed his bill of costs in the High Court at Nakawa and insisted on representing the complainant, who had terminated his services.
If convicted, Kibirige will be struck off the list of practicing advocates, according to a member of the disciplinary committee, who did not want to be named.
However, Kibirige of Kibirige and Company Advocates denied the charges before the six-member committee chaired by Elijah Wante, who is also the director of the Law Development Centre.