Uganda: Bad Black sued over non-payment of legal fees

By Agencies

Embattled city socialite Shanita Namuyimbwa, also known as Bad Black, has been sued for allegedly failing to pay legal fees amounting to over Shs162 million.

Bad Black was sued by HM Onoria Advocates, a law firm that claims to have offered her legal services before the Court of Appeal and claims she never honoured her contract with them. The suit was filed on Tuesday before the High Court in Kampala.

The law suit is in connection legal fees she allegedly defaulted to pay after being represented to secure bail to enable her fly to Dubai to have her breast implants removed.

The Anti-Corruption Court in July 2012 convicted and sentenced Black to four years in jail for embezzling over 11 billion shillings from Daveshan Development Company Ltd, a real estate company belonging to her lover.

She has since appealed against the judgment.

On October 17 last year, Black entered into an agreement with the law firm to help her secure bail, pending the hearing of her appeal. Late last year, court released her on bail so she could fly to Dubai.

She has apparently not returned to the country since, and the Court of Appeal has since cancelled her bail and ordered her rearrested. The court says she deceptively secured bail after she changed sureties without its knowledge.

Court documents show that Black and the law firm agreed to have the legal fees in question paid two weeks upon her release on bail.

But the law firm claims that despite several reminders and promises by Black to pay the legal fees, nothing has come forth, hence this suit against her for breach of contract.

The law firm now wants the court to compel Black to pay the said legal fees and also the costs of the suit.

The Court registrar, John Eudes Keitirima, has summoned Black to file in her defense within 15 days from the date of receiving the summons before a hearing date can be fixed.

Source: Daily Monitor (26/02/2013): http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Bad-Black-sued-over-non-payment-of-legal-fees/-/688334/1705172/-/g2ikaj/-/index.html