JOHN KIBALIZI
The case in which former crane bank owner, Dr Sudhir Ruparelia is accusing Sebalu and Lule Advocates of conflict interest hit a snag yesterday after another judge pulled out.
At the commercial court on Friday, the trial judge, David Wangutusi opted out of the case saying he is currently handling several cases involving Sudhir, Crane bank, dfcu and Bank of Uganda. He advised that this case be consolidated with other cases. The file has been sent back to the clerk awaiting further action
In December, 2018 Dr Sudhir Ruparelia ran to seek redress from commercial court pointing out that Sebalu and Lule advocates were unfit to represent Bank of Uganda (BoU) and dfcu bank because they once represented Crane Management Services.
In his plaint, Sudhir argued: “In view of the advocate client relationship, between the applicant(crane management services sued dfcu bank), the latter’s continued participation as defence counsel for the second respondent(dfcu) herein, which is a defendant in High Court Civil Suit (HCCS) No 109/2018 against the plaintiff is prejudicial to the applicant’s head suit”.
Sudhir also demanded that the judge issues a permanent injunction on Sebalu and Lule Law Firm banning them from appearing before a court case as the shielding units for dfcu bank, and the other court cases that Crane Management Services and dfcu are engaged in.
Sebalu and Lule advocates were last year appointed as replacements for MMAKS and AF Mpanga advocates who were in December 2017 discontinued from representing the central bank due to conflict of interest in the land mark ruling of Justice David Wangutusi.
