VIDEO: Sudhir says mediation can now continue after lawyers are kicked out

Sudhir Ruparelia will now focus on mediation to settle a multibillion suit Bank of Uganda has filed against him and his company, Meera Investments Ltd.

Sudhir, who was speaking to journalists shortly after the Commercial Court kicked out two lawyers the central bank had hired to help in its case against the businessman, however will not leave David Mpanga, of AF Mpanga Advocates, and Timothy Masembe, of MMAKS Advocates, alone; he intends to report their ‘misconduct’ to the law society of England.

On July 13, BoU, as Receiver of Crane Bank Limited and regulator of the banking sector announced it had sanctioned a suit against Sudhir and Meera Investments to recoup funds that “were fraudulently extracted from, as well as losses that were caused to Crane Bank.”

The central bank claims in its affidavit that it seeks to recover a total of $93.8 million and Shs60.3 billion, together with the freehold titles to Crane Bank’s branches, general damages, interest and costs.

The two parties have been engaged in back and forth talks, some of which sources say have been chaired by President Museveni. But efforts to reach an amicable ending has been futile since then.

After the central bank hired the services of David Mpanga, of AF Mpanga Advocates, and Timothy Masembe, of MMAKS Advocates, Sudhir did not take the matter lying down and challenged the decision to hire his lawyers of twelve years, lawyers he argues drafted his defence and are, therefore, potential witnesses in the case.

Thursday morning, the Commercial Court in Kampala kicked the two lawyers out of the case after concurring with Sudhir that the respondents were conflicted.

And, speaking to journalists shortly after the case, Sudhir  said he could not allow conflicted lawyers continue to take part in the case and that the court ruling has now opened doors for mediation before the High Court.

“Justice will always prevail in the end. We can now move to the next stage of mediation as long as the conflicted lawyers are out of the case,