Alleged Misconduct: Again, NBA Writes BOB Chairman, Olanipekun, Insists On His Recusal

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yakubu Maikyau has written to the Chairman, Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun to step aside and not preside over the call to bar ceremony of the Nigerian law School scheduled for Tuesday Dec 6th & Wednesday 7th.

This is in connection with the NBA’s call for Chief Olanipekun to recuse himself in relation to the scandalous email by a former partner in his firm, Ms Adekunbi Ogunde to SAIPEM, an expatriate company claiming that her principal, Chief Olanipekun uses his office as BoB chairman to influence Judges and get favorable judgements for his clients.

The NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, described the continuous silence by the Body of Benchers to the ‘indictable letter’ of Mrs. Adekunbi Ogunde, as ‘disgusting, and a betrayal of the confidence Nigerians have in the legal profession’.

The letter was copied to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and to all Benchers.

It had the title, “ A CALL TO SALVAGE THE IMAGE, REPUTATION AND INTEGRITY OF THE BODY OF BENCHERS AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION, AND FOR THE CALL TO BAR CEREMONY SCHEDULED FOR 6 AND 7 DECEMBER 2022 TO BE PRESIDED BY, HONOURABLE JUSTICE MARY PETER ODILI, JSC, RTD – THE VICE CHAIRMAN BODY OF BENCHERS.

Mr Maikayau’s letter is coming on the heels of a similar letter by the immediate past President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata, who had also asked Chief Olanipekun to recuse himself from the Chairmanship of the BoB to restore confidence in the body. The request was rebuffed by the body who kept mum over the letter.