By Innocent Anaba
Cross-examination of the defence, in the case of the estate of the late billionaire-businessman, Jacques Roomans, before Justice Adedayo Oyebanji of the Lagos High Court, opened in the new year, with the First and Second defendants, Mr. Luke Ilogu, SAN, who drafted the disputed Will of the deceased and is also its executor, as well as Mr. Stanley Onuosa, counsel of West Africa Ventures, WAV, the deceased’s company.
Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, lead counsel to the plaintiffs, opened his questioning with such fundamentals as when Mr. Ilogu first met the late Roomans; whether or not he knew his friend and client had marital problems and more.
The defendant, who claimed that he did not know that his friend of some 40 years had marital problems, added that the 2022 Will was the first time he was instructed on a personal matter of the deceased.
This assertion was contradictory to the uncontested Exhibit H15, which indicates that, on the deceased’s instructions, a Will was forwarded to him in 2020. He also gave evidence that his appointment and that of the 2nd defendant as executors of the Will was merely “collateral,” but there were quite a few noticeable differences between the 2017 and 2022 Wills.
Repeatedly, the witness stated an inability to recall vital issues, including the February 26, 2020, Witters Khatterwong letter and his claim of first knowledge of the medical report, despite documented evidence that suggests his earlier involvement in the deceased’s testamentary matters.
Under further cross-examination, witness admitted that the medical report by a Dr. Khean was among the documents provided to him by the deceased, during the course of preparation of the 2022 Will, which he read and relied upon.
The court moved for adjournment to January 16, 2026, because the witness would be unavoidably absent to attend to other pressing matters and the prosecution suggested that in order to save time, the next witnesses should be taken on for cross-examination.
On resumption of the court, WAV’s former Chief Financial Officer, Rama Prasad Das, under cross-examination by Dr. Ajibade, said the huge financial transfers made to Foundation Chambers in Apapa, Lagos, were authorised by Mr. Roomans.
Ajibade had drawn his attention to the audited Annual Financial Statements, which stood in contrast to his earlier statement. The Annual Financial Statements, cited from 2019, through to 2023, showed monetary transfers of $7 million and N10 billion, respectively, “to meet ongoing litigation expenses.”
The second witness, from Foundation Chambers, Apapa, Mr. Joseph Amadi, stated that Mr. Onuosa, asked him on to the case, as a witness. Under cross-examination, he stated that it did not make sense to him that a man of Mr. Roomans’ wealth, would exclude certain members of his family in his Will.
The matter continues today, with Ilogu continued cross-examination.
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