Izevbekhai's case put back to allow new legal representation

NIGERIAN MOTHER Pamela Izevbekhai’s case before the Supreme Court has been put back to allow her time to find new legal representation.

The Chief Justice, John Murray, today adjourned the matter for mention until May 28th after hearing that Ms Izevbekhai is talking to a number of solicitors in relation to her case and dealing with one in particular.

Sligo-based Ms Izevbekhai first took legal action in 2006 to prevent the deportation of herself and her two young daughters Naomi (7) and Jemima (6) on the grounds that they would be subjected to female genital mutilation.

Earlier this month, lawyers for the Nigerian woman applied to the court to cease acting for her after Ms Izevbekhai admitted bogus documents had been used in her case.

Lawyers for the State have said they have new evidence which, if correct, would show her case was based on a lie so fundamental that it should be dismissed as an abuse of court process.

Ms Izevbekhai has acknowledged some documents supplied to the court in support of her action were forged but is standing over her claim that she had had a baby daughter, Elizabeth, who died from blood loss as a result of female genital mutilation.

She has said her husband, who is in Nigeria, had admitted to her that he obtained fake documents after the doctor who had treated Elizabeth demanded a substantial payment in exchange for the genuine papers. Hugh Mohan SC, for the State, told the court yesterday that his client was very keen to proceed with an application to have Ms Izevbekhai’s Supreme Court appeal against a High Court rejection of her case struck out.

Mr Justice Murray, while adjourning this application, warned Ms Izevbekhai that there was an onus on her to take reasonable steps to advance matters.

“Whatever is happening should happen with due application,” he said. While allowance was being made for her to find a new solicitor, matters should not be held up unduly.

Ms Izevbekhai was present in court for yesterday’s brief hearing, as was Gabriel Toolan, her former solicitor, who is waiting to come off-record.