Canada-based Nigerian Journalist Hails NBA For Calling Olanipekun To Step Aside As BoB Chair Over Alleged Misconduct
The President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, has been commended for his courage to reiterate his call on the Chairman, Body of the Benchers, (BoB) Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN to resign his position to pave the way for an independent and total investigation over allegation on abuse of office against him.
A Canada based Nigerian journalist, Chief Femi Shodunke, gave the commendation in a post on social media.
“On this, indeed I must commend the NBA President, Y.C. Maikyau, over his (in a vicarious position for NBA) sterling courage, intrepidation, to write the letter (if it’s true, because anything can be forged in Nigeria now!) in circulation to BoB Chair Wole Olanipekun.
“Limpidly, to sweep such dubious email allegations under the carpet, in a shameless, careless manner, is to allow the judiciary, and indeed the legal profession, to lose its esteemed prestige, honour and integrity in the society, particularly in Nigeria.
“Quite frankly, permit me to say well done President Maikyau for a good job, not only in the interest of the legal profession, but to unequivocally also sustain the confidence of Nigerians in protecting them against the powerfully connected in our society. In line with the NBA position, Olanipekun should resign pronto and proper investigation should, without undue delay, be instituted.
“Nigerians are anxiously waiting and the whole world is watching appropriate actions that are apt in this type of disgraceful conduct at such an exalted legal position. Indeed, I just read the letter now and decided to react as a concerned citizen of Nigeria who believes in the rule of law, and proper conduct in our society” Chief Sodunke wrote.
He said further: “Unfortunately, this neoteric agitation, which has been troubling the minds of many Nigerians since it came into the public space, is coming on the heel of the recent controversial “political” speech made by the CJ Olukayode Ariwoola in Port Harcourt.
“Unmistakably, this is why the legal profession, which is our hope to ensure a sane society in Nigeria, must use this email controversy matter, once and for all, to clean itself. Otherwise, the indelible stain will continue to dog it forever.”
The incumbent NBA President’s call is his second in four months, to Chief Olanipekun (SAN) to recuse himself as Chairman of the BoB pending the investigation by the BoB of allegations of professional misconduct involving a former staff member in his chamber, Adekunbi Ogunde.
Recall that the immediate past President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata, had on July 22, 2022 urged Olanipekun to step down while investigation of the alleged misconduct against Ogunde was being conducted to allow for a fair, unbiased and transparent investigation.
Akpata then also called for the investigation of Olanipekun’s law firm, Olanipekun and Co Chambers, to ascertain the level of its involvement in the professional misconduct of its staff, if there are any at all.
