Anarchy: Call Olanipekun To Order, Integrity Crusaders Urge NBA, Body Of Benchers

The Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN) has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Body of Benchers to call the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Wole Olanipekun, to order over remarks that could potentially lead to anarchy.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, the president of GICN, Barr Edward Omaga said Olanipekun’s statement is illogical with the prospect of throwing the country into an unnecessary war situation.

In his final written address to the tribunal against the petition filed by the Labour Party, Olanipekun, President Bola Tinubu’s counsel said the FCT is the 37th state for electoral purposes and any other interpretation would “lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy, and alteration of the very intention of the legislature”.

But Omaga said Olanipekun not only threatened the judiciary, he intended to blackmail the Honourable Justices sitting at the PEPT into doing the bidding of Mr. President.

His words: “What bothers us now is how Nigeria can survive as one indivisible nation beyond the verdict to be passed by the PEPT and Supreme Court as to who won the Presidential Election. We are aware that anarchy and strong statements have been made by one of the gladiators at the PEPT through his lawyers.

“Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN in the Final Written Address dated 14th July 2023 and filed on behalf of President Tinubu maintained that Section 134 (2) (b) of the Constitution should be interpreted to mean that the Federal Capital Territory is the 37th State in Nigeria for electoral purposes.

“He argued that President Tinubu needed not to have won 25% of the total votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory before INEC declares him the winner. Olanipekun SAN contended that any other interpretation different from this will lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy, and alteration of the very intention of the legislature.

“To our mind, the above submission coming from a very Senior Member of the Inner Bar is unbecoming, unpalatable, illogical and can be interpreted to mean a subtle attempt at threatening or blackmailing the Honourable Justices sitting at the PEPT into doing the bidding of Mr. President. We want Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN to note that it was wrong for him to fan the embers of chaos and anarchy when Nigerians have chosen to remain calm despite their feelings about the Presidential Election. He should remember that no ethnic group owns Nigeria more than the others.

“Assuming that the lawyers of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi equally make such anarchy and strong statements in their Final Written Addresses, what would have happened? Does Olanipekun SAN think that he has the monopoly of threat and blackmail? We request the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to quickly cut Olanipekun SAN to size before he throws the country into an unnecessary war situation all in the name of legal practice. Let it be known that Nigerians are not cowards or fools. They are keenly following proceedings at the PEPT with the belief that nothing short of substantial justice shall be done to all the litigants.”

Omaga, therefore, urged the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), which is under the supervision of the Body of Benchers (BOB) to push for sanction against Olanipekun on the ground of professional misconduct.

“He should first be made to drop the BOB Chairmanship so that he does not influence the process and decision of LPDC,” the statement added.