Sat, 03 Dec 2016 11:46:18 +0000
LUSAKA lawyer Martha Mushipe has dragged her client UPND Kaoma Central Member of Parliament Sitwala Sitwala to court for non-payment of legal fees.
Ms Mushipe has accused the MP of refusing to settle the sum of K45, 000 for professional services rendered to him.
The UPND lawyer claims that on instructions from her client, she represented him in an election petition matter where Austin Liato sued him for the nullification of his seat in Parliament.
“On the 9th September, 2016 the plaintiff received instructions from the defendant to represent him. The plaintiff and the defendant entered into an agreement and signed an engagement letter accepting the conditions,” she said.
“Despite repeated reminders, the defendant has refused, neglected and ignored to settle the outstanding legal fees which are rightfully due to the plaintiff for legal and professional services rendered to them.”
Ms Mushipe submitted to court that Mr Sitwala had issued instructions of termination of contract to her firm on September 30, 2016 without payment of the legal fees when the lawyer already concluded his case before court.
She has since requested the courts to compel the parliamentarian to immediately pay the legal fees owing as per agreement, including interest at current commercial bank rate to the date of settlement.
The High Court previously dismissed Mr Liato’s petition and upheld that Mr Sitwala as the duly elected Member of Parliament.
