By Okey Ndiribe & Emman Ovuakporie

ABUJA—The controversy generated by the impeachment motion against President Goodluck Jonathan last week took a new twist, yesterday, as a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamilla, who presented the motion, accused the Presidency of circulating misleading reports in the media to tarnish his reputation.

However, he admitted he was punished for professional misconduct in the United States in 2003.

In response to reports in some sections of the media alleging that he was convicted by the Supreme Court of Georgia, USA, Gbajabiamila said he was sanctioned by the Georgia Bar Disciplinary Board for professional misconduct.

Gbajabiamilla said: “Let me state very clearly that, yes, I was sanctioned by the Georgia Bar Disciplinary Board for professional misconduct and negligence due to an unfortunate ethical violation that took place about 10 years ago in 2003.”

He said it was his para-legal staff who stole the money, contrary to his instruction that the said sum, $25,000, be paid to a client.

He said: “This did not come to my knowledge until I received a letter from the Georgia Bar in 2005.” The letter was addressed to my Lagos address, which I had left with the Georgia Bar as my contact address for any housekeeping matter that may arise after I might have left.”

A self-styled Legislative Awareness Group had alleged in a paid advertisement in a national newspaper yesterday that “Saharareporters (an on-line news medium) found out that on February 27, 2007, the Highest Court in the State of Georgia, USA, ordered that Femi Gbaja with state bar no.288330 be suspended from the practice of law for 36 months before a full panel of Supreme Court of Georgia led by Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears.”

Posted by admin on Jul 25 2012. Filed under Goodluck Jonathan (2010-present), House, Legislature, Presidency. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry