LPDC: Akpata Is Fighting Proxy War With Olanipekun- Olasupo Ojo

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Mr. Olasupo Ojo, a lawyer has alleged that the demand by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN to step aside from the seat is a proxy war being waged by NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata.

City Lawyer reports that Ojo, a former Secretary of the NBA Constitution Review Committee, also alleged that the demand for Olanipekun’s recusal is a “propaganda war” “being sponsored by a clique,” urging lawyers not to be hoodwinked by the alleged plot.

Noting that those gunning for Olanipekun to recuse himself “are opportunists stoking the matter beyond its scope and trying to use the NBA to drag the BOB Chair down with it at all cost,” Ojo urged “discerning” lawyers “not to join a facade wagon whose true destination is hidden.”

According to Ojo, “Those gunning for the chairmanship of the BOB should come out openly and tell the truth about what transpired at a recent meeting of the BOB where the NBA President read out his memo on the proposed amendment to the LPA during which he spoke rudely to the BOB and he was roundly lambasted by members of the BOB. The next shot to be fired was to exploit the issue of the letter written by a lawyer in the office of the Chairman of the BOB to get at him in retaliation.”

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He wondered what “hidden personal axe” those who are pushing the recusal demand have with Olanipekun, warning that “The NBA is not the only Association of Lawyers registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria hence the false impression should not be given that the NBA letter for recusal has the backing of all Association of Lawyers in Nigeria.”

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There was an earlier report of a complaint by former Minister of Energy and Petroleum ministries, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia SAN over an email from Ms. Adekunbi Ogunde, a Partner in Wole Olanipekun & Co, allegedly soliciting to take over a brief his law firm was handling for SAIPEM SPA. Following his demand for an apology, Wole Olanipekun & Co apologized for the debacle and disowned the Partner.

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READ ALSO: Wemimo Ogunde distances self from call for Olanipekun’s resignation as BoB Chairman

Below is the full text of the statement.

STILL ON THE NBA LETTER OF RECUSAL TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BODY OF BENCHERS.

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I have this morning read the statement credited to a group called Justice Reform Project, (JRP), an NGO like the NBA, formed by some senior lawyers. I also had the benefit of reading the statement issued by Oluwemimo Ogunde SAN, a member of the JRP and father of the lawyer who wrote the letter in the issue.

Based on the two statements, it is now obvious that this whole issue is being sponsored by a clique. They are opportunists stoking the matter beyond its scope and trying to use the NBA to drag the BOB Chair down with it at all cost.

I find it difficult that I should be choked because of a letter written by a lawyer in my firm without my authorisation and who has claimed responsibility for same.

Those gunning for chairmanship of the BOB should come out openly and tell the truth about what transpired at a recent meeting of the BOB where the NBA President read out his memo on the proposed amendment to the LPA during which he spoke rudely to the BOB and he was roundly lambasted by members of the BOB. The next shot to be fired was to exploit the issue of the letter written by a lawyer in the office of the Chairman of the BOB to get at him in retaliation.

I am just looking and laughing at those screaming their heads off in support of the recusal letter. You are all victims of social media trial. They are using you all as mobs to shout-out their cause in the market place. I advise you to be circumspect and not continue to fall prey to the antics of an exploitative clique.

Why are they using the NBA to cry more than the bereaved who has already filed his process with the LPDC on the same matter?

Why are they throwing stones as if they are saints?

Is the Chairmanship of the BOB an issue in the substantive matter?

Why is the NBA now being used as their platform to launch a propaganda war against the person of the BOB chair who is a former NBA President?

What is the hidden personal axe they have to grind with him as the BOB chair?

Why did they wait until now to seize on the issue of a letter wrongly written by a lawyer in his law firm without his knowledge or authorisation as admitted by the same lawyer who wrote the letter?

How many of us have been crucified just because a lawyer in our firm wrote an unauthorised letter and is this the first or last time such will happen in our law firms?

Can you hold the principal partner of a law firm vicariously liable for an unauthorised letter written by a lawyer in the firm under the Rules of Professional Conduct?

Why are they unable to cite just a rule of the RPC that has been breached by the BOB chair?

I URGE ALL MATURE AND DISCERNING LAWYERS NOT TO JOIN A FACADE WAGON WHOSE TRUE DESTINATION IS HIDDEN.

WHY CANT THEY WAIT FOR THE ALREADY IGNITED LPDC DUE PROCESS TO BE FOLLOWED TO LOGICAL CONCLUSION AT THE SUPREME COURT?

SINCE THERE IS NOW A DIVISION, WHO IS THEIR CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION OF THE BOB CHAIR AND WHY CAN’T THEIR CANDIDATE AWAIT HIS OWN TIME?

AT OUR LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE, WE SHOULD NOT BE AMONG THE MOBS.

The NBA is not the only Association of Lawyers registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria hence the false impression should not be given that the NBA letter for recusal has the backing of all Association of Lawyers in Nigeria.

THANKS.

OLASUPO OJO ESQ.
July 30, 2022.

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