Body Of Benchers: NBA tackles Olanipekun, insists he must resign
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Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has again, demanded the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Body of Benchers (BoB), Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, following a claim by a leading partner in his chamber, Ms. Adekunbi Ogunde, that he influenced judges to deliver favourable judgements for his clients, in sensitive and highly-political cases.
The NBA, through its President, Mr. Y. C. Maikyau, SAN, maintained that Olanipekun, SAN, should recuse himself and allow the Vice Chairman of the Body, retired Justice Mary Odili to preside over the forthcoming Call to Bar Ceremony, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
It said the move would salvage the image, reputation and integrity of the BoB and the legal profession.
The BoB oversees the call of graduates of law school to the Nigerian Bar, as well as the regulation of the legal profession in Nigeria
Members of the body are called Benchers.
The NBA, which is the umbrella body of legal practitioners in the country, noted that Olanipekun’s partner, Ogunde, sent an email to Saipem Contracting Nigeria Ltd to solicit for a brief, after the Rivers state government preferred charges against the company over allegations of $130million fraud.
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Though the firm of Henry Ajumogobia, SAN, was already defending the company, however, Ogunde, allegedly told the management to consider hiring Olanipekun & Co to take over the case.
According to the NBA, in the email, Ogunde, claimed that her principal, Olanipekun, SAN, has more “influence” with judges across all courts.
According to the NBA, Ogunde’s email, read: “I believe that, you need a more influential lawyer/law firm to prevent a potential huge pay out to the Rivers State Government and without a doubt, I believe that my law firm, Wole Olanipekun & Co., can help in this regard.
