A group of Nigerian Senior Lawyers under the auspices of the Justice Reform Project (JRP) have asked Wole Olanipekun to resign from his position as President of the Body of Judges (BOB), due to an allegation of professional misconduct that involves your law firm.
The JRP statement on July 29 comes on the heels of a similar call from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on the resignation of Mr. Olanipekun from his position with the BOB, a body responsible for recruiting new lawyers to the Nigerian bar association.
Mr. Olanipekun, also a senior lawyer, has been in the eye of the storm following influence-peddling allegations made against a co-partner at his law firm, Adekunbi Ogunde.
Ms Ogunde was accused of soliciting reports from Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, a company that is already being defended in a lawsuit by Odein Ajumogobia, another SAN.
In a leaked letter, Ms. Ogunde allegedly wrote on behalf of Mr. Olanipekun’s law firm in June; she said Mr. Olanipekun’s presence in the Saipem group case “will significantly change things in Sapiem’s favour”.
Ms. Ogunde’s conduct in requesting a brief from a client is said to violate the standards of professional conduct for legal professionals.
He later apologized for his action, saying he wrote the letter without the knowledge of the law firm or Mr. Olanipekun.
The law firm also released a statement saying that Ms. Ogunde acted on her own.
But concerned about the damage the act could cause to the image of the legal profession, the NBA filed a petition with the Legal Professionals Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) seeking sanction against Ms. Ogunde for the alleged infraction.
In the petition signed by NBA First Vice President John Aikpokpo-Martins, the association also urged the LPDC to determine the guilt of Mr. Olanipekun and other associates of the law firm.
The NBA has also written to Mr. Olanipekun, asking him to step down as chairman of the Banking Corps due to his association with Ms. Ogunde.
But in a veiled reference to steps taken by the NBA in this regard, former NBA president Olanipekun said in Abuja last Wednesday that the LPDC is not meant to settle personal scores.
Mr. Olanipekun, who was conducting the bar calling ceremony for lawyers newly admitted to the legal profession, urged the new wigs not to engage in acts to bring down their colleagues.
JRP bets on the NBA
However, lending its voice to the NBA’s call for Mr. Olanipekun’s resignation from the BOB, the JRP urged Mr. Olanipekun to “resign his position as Chairman of the Banking Corps to allow investigations to be concluded with the necessary confidence.” ”.
He said “self-recusal would not normally be a sign of guilt, (but) it would be a matter of responsibility and honor.”
He noted that “Scholar Seda (Mr. Olanipekun) remaining in office is therefore an indiscretion that will come at a cost to the integrity of our profession.”
Senior lawyers rejected Olanipekun’s narrative of witch hunts or ulterior motives, saying it was capable of tarnishing the image of the legal profession.
“Innuendoes in scholar Silk’s speech at the Call-to-Bar ceremony, suggesting that the opposing views were indicative of a ‘throw it down syndrome,’ can only strengthen the call for his resignation, despite the fact that No formal complaint has been filed against him. he been interposed.”
He praised Olumide Akpata’s NBA leadership for “upholding the standards of our profession, even in circumstances involving a man who commands enormous respect from the entire profession.”
The JRP, which was founded in 2019 during the controversial impeachment of former Nigerian Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, said “inconsistencies of fact regarding the delivery” of “Ms Ogunde’s” letter are also an issue. relatively small.”
The NBA leadership has done its job. His actions have marked a new era in enforcing ethical standards in the legal profession and we must all stand with the NBA in ensuring the integrity of our profession,” the JRP said.
Allegation
Mr. Ajumogobia accused the Wole Olanipekun Law Firm of violating the standards of professional conduct for legal professionals in its effort to hijack a case in which Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, Sapiem had hired him.
In a letter criticizing Wole Olanipekun and Co, Mr. Ajumogobia demanded an apology from the law firm for soliciting a case the client had already hired him for.
“I must also express my extreme disappointment and utter disappointment,” Mr. Ajumogobia said of the letter from Mr. Olanipekun’s law firm requesting to represent Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited in the $130 million case between the firm and the state government of Nigeria. Rivers.
Mr. Ajumogobia added: “In my opinion, the attached letter amounts to serious misconduct of the worst kind,” citing the rules of professional conduct, which prohibit “self-advertising and solicitation by Nigerian legal professionals.”
Mr. Ajumogobia added: “In my opinion, the attached letter amounts to serious misconduct of the worst kind,” citing the rules of professional conduct, which prohibit “self-advertising and solicitation by Nigerian legal professionals.”