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A bunch of Senior Advocates of Nigeria beneath the auspices of the Justice Reform Venture (JRP) has requested Wole Olanipekun to relinquish his place as Chairman, Physique of Benchers (BOB), over an allegation {of professional} misconduct involving his regulation agency.
The assertion by the JRP dated 29 July got here on the heels of an identical name by the Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA) on Mr Olanipekun to step down from his place within the BOB, a physique answerable for calling new legal professionals to the Nigerian bar.
Mr Olanipekun, additionally a senior advocate, has been within the eye of the storm following allegations of affect peddling levelled towards a co-partner in his regulation agency, Adekunbi Ogunde.
Ms Ogunde was accused of soliciting briefs from Saipem Contracting Nigeria Restricted, an organization already being defended in a go well with by Odein Ajumogobia, one other SAN.
In a leaked letter, Ms Ogunde purportedly wrote on behalf of Mr Olanipekun’s regulation agency in June; she had stated Mr Olanipekun’s presence within the Saipem group case “will considerably change issues in favour of Sapiem.”
Ms Ogunde’s conduct of soliciting a quick from a consumer is claimed to violate the foundations {of professional} conduct for authorized practitioners.
She subsequently apologised for her motion, saying she wrote the letter with out the information of the regulation agency or information of Mr Olanipekun.
The regulation agency had additionally issued a press release saying Ms Ogunde acted on her personal.
However involved in regards to the injury the act may do to the picture of the authorized occupation, the NBA petitioned the Authorized Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) in search of the sanction of Ms Ogunde, over the alleged infraction.
Within the petition signed by the first Vice President of the NBA, John Aikpokpo-Martins, the affiliation additionally urged the LPDC to find out the culpability of Mr Olanipekun and different companions of the regulation agency.
The NBA additionally wrote Mr Olanipekun, calling on him to step down because the Physique of Benchers chair on the grounds of her affiliation with Ms Ogunde.
However in a veiled reference to the steps taken by the NBA on the matter, Mr Olanipekun, a onetime president of the NBA, stated in Abuja final Wednesday that the LPDC will not be meant for settling private scores.
Mr Olanipekun, who was performing the call-to-bar ceremony of newly admitted legal professionals into the authorized occupation, urged the brand new wigs to not interact in acts of flattening their colleagues.
JRP backs NBA
Nonetheless, lending its voice to the NBA’s name for Mr Olanipekun’s resignation from the BOB, the JRP urged Mr Olanipekun to “step down from his place as Chairman of the Physique of Benchers to allow investigations to be concluded with the requisite confidence.”
It stated the “self-recusal would ordinarily not be a mark of culpability, (however) it could be a matter of duty and honour.”
It famous that “The discovered silk’s (Mr Olanipekun’s) continued keep in workplace is, consequently, an indiscretion that may come at a value to the integrity of our occupation.”
The senior legal professionals dismissed Mr Olanipekun’s narrative of witch-hunting or ulterior motives, saying it was able to soiling the authorized occupation’s picture.
“The innuendos within the discovered silk’s speech on the Name-to-Bar ceremony, suggesting that opposing views had been indicative of a ‘pull him down syndrome’, can solely reinforce the decision for his resignation, despite the fact that a proper criticism towards him has not been lodged.”
It lauded the NBA management of Olumide Akpata for “upholding the requirements of our occupation, even in circumstances involving a person who instructions an infinite quantity of respect from your entire occupation.”
The JRP which was based in 2019 through the controversial removing of the previous Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, stated “The factual inconsistencies relating to the supply” of Ms Ogunde’s “letter are additionally a comparatively small matter.”
The NBA management has completed its job. Their actions have marked a brand new period within the enforcement of moral requirements within the authorized occupation and we should all stand behind the NBA to make sure the integrity of our occupation,” the JRP stated.
The JRP has a governing board headed by Funke Adekoya, a Senior Adocate of Nigeria.
Different SANs recognized to be members embrace: Kayode Sofola, Tani Molajo, Funke Adekoya, Oluwafemi Atoyebi, C.A Candide-Johnson, Osaro Eghobamien, Cyril Pinheiro, Oluwemimo Ogunde, Olumide Sofowora, Olatunde Adejuyigbe, Oyesoji Oyeleke, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, and Prof. Alphonsus Alubo.
Oluwemi Ogunde, additionally a senior advocate, whose daughter is the associate at Mr Olanipekun’s regulation agency accused of misconduct over the scandal, not too long ago resigned his membership of the group on ethical grounds.
Others who’ve not too long ago left the group embrace Olusopo Shashore, a former Lawyer-Basic and Commissioner of Lagos State, and Jibrin Okutepa, each SANs.
Allegation
Mr Ajumogobia accused Wole Olanipekun’s regulation agency of violating the foundations {of professional} conduct for authorized practitioners in its effort to hijack a case for which Saipem Contracting Nigeria Restricted, Sapiem had engaged him.
In a letter essential of Wole Olanipekun and Co, Mr Ajumogobia demanded an apology from the regulation agency for soliciting a case for which the consumer had already retained him.
“I have to additionally specific my excessive disappointment and utter disillusionment,” Mr Ajumogobia stated of Mr Olanipekun’s regulation agency’s letter soliciting to signify Saipem Contracting Nigeria Restricted within the $130million case between the agency and the Rivers State authorities.
Mr Ajumogobia added, “The connected letter is for my part tantamount to the gross misconduct of the worst form,” citing the foundations {of professional} conduct, which prohibits “self-advertising and solicitation by Nigerian authorized practitioners.”
Mr Ajumogobia added, “The connected letter is for my part tantamount to the gross misconduct of the worst form,” citing the foundations {of professional} conduct, which prohibits “self-advertising and solicitation by Nigerian authorized practitioners.”
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