Justice Paul Gadenya will now hear the case in which Sudhir Ruparelia sued city law firm Sebalu & Lule Advocates, seeking to stop them from representing dfcu Bank for alleged conflict of interest.
Gadenya becomes the third judge to hear the case after justices Elizabeth Alvidza and David Wangutusi declined to hear it.
Wangutusi said he is hearing another Crane Bank case against Bank of Uganda.
The case has not been allocated a hearing date because Gadenya is away.
Conflicted lawyers
In the petition, Sudhir argues that by virtue of Sebalu & Lule having been CMS’ previous lawyers, their being attorneys for dfcu is in violation of the advocate client relationship and the Advocates (Professional Conduct) Regulations and therefore injurious to CMS.
“In view of the advocate-client relationship between the applicant (Crane Management Services Ltd) and the 1st respondent (Sebalu & Lule advocates), the latter’s continued participation as defence counsel for the 2nd respondent (Dfcu bank) herein, which is the defendant in High Court Civil Suit (HCCS) No. 109/2018 against the applicant/plaintiff, is prejudicial to the applicant’s head suit,” the petition reads in part.
Sebalu Lule & Advocates are also representing Bank of Uganda in a case which the central bank brought against Sudhir Ruparelia in his capacity as a former shareholder of the defunct Crane Bank, following High Court’s dismissal of two city law firms, MMAKS Advocates and Bowmans (AF Mpanga) for being in conflict of interest.
