The Law Society of Botswana (LSB) has raised a red flag against Duma Boko’s law firm over issues relating to its trust account and his involvement with the law firm while he is an Advocate.
Responding to The Telegraph questionnaire, the Society said it has not yet issued Boko’s law firm, Boko & Company with a fidelity certificate pending clarification on some matters that are conditions precedent to issuance of a practicing certificate.
Reports indicate that Boko’s law firm, Boko & Company has been operating without a practicing certificate since December 2017.
“As an Advocate, Duma Boko is exempted from membership of the Fidelity Guarantee Fund. He is therefore not required to hold a Fidelity Certificate nor run a Trust Account,” explained LSC Executive Secretary Tebogo Moipolai.
But an insider at the Society accused its management of what he called an unnecessary witch-hunt.
“This is jealousy and a witch-hunt especially by a section of the management that is sympathetic to the newly formed politically Party Alliance for the Progressives (AP),” he said. The insider said the management at the Society is to discredit Boko and his law firm.
According to the insider, Boko as an advocate is aware of all the procedure and regulations to be followed.
“He is now running his chamber and has left behind the law firm which is now managed by his wife and attorney Aobakwe Monamo,” said the source.
Moipolai said there is no how they could discredit Boko explaining that they were actually doing what the Council is mandated to do “which is not a political strategy to undermine his credentials.”
“It is not true that we are refusing to issue his law firm with a certificate. The Council requires some clarifications on some matters which are conditions precedent to issuance of a practicing certificate. The clarification has been received and a letter of support for practicing certificates will be issued,” said Moipolai.
When contacted for a comment, Boko said the law firm is now owned by one of his long time employees by the name Aobakwe Monamo.
“I’m not dealing with Boko & Company but I have my own chamber located next to the Law Firm. I have long moved since I graduated as an advocate, and I left the company in good standing with The Law Society of Botswana as per the Act of the Society,” he explained.
When contacted, attorney Monamo confirmed that he was one of the managing partners at the law firm adding that everything is running smoothly and there was no “misconduct levelled against the firm by the Society.”
