By Gbenga Sodeinde
Human Right Lawyer and NBA Chief, Olakami Samuel Falade, has faulted what he described as unfair and unnecessary media trial against a legal luminary Chief Wole Olanipekun by NBA President, Olumide Apata.
Specificaly, Falade, former Chairman Nigeria Bar Association, Ado Ekiti said the alledged media trail of a trail blazer and Chairman of the Body of benchers, a former President of the bar is malicious and of no moment.
NBA President, Olumide Akpata according media publication had signed a letter dated July 22 letter addressed to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Wole Olanipekun, asking him to step down as the Body of Benchers (BOB) chairman over the Saipem saga.
According to media publication, Akpata made the call following a petition against Ms. Adekunbi Ogunde, a partner at Wole Olanipekun & Co. Ogunde is accused of engaging in “conduct incompatible with her status and in flagrant disregard of rules of professional conduct”.
Akpata informed Olanipekun that the NBA had taken the matter to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).The LPDC is a panel under the BOB which Olanipekun, a former NBA President, heads.
Akpata said he is in a situation where his continued occupancy of the office would conflict with or influence LPDC processes.
But faulting Olanipekun’s trial, the NBA Chief, Falade said a representation or an alledged infraction by an individual does not in anyway affect another.
Falade querried, ” How do you engage a media trial on an individual without service of any correspondence on such individual?
“What happens to fair hearing.Parties in the said saga have since move on and apology have being made and accepted?” .
Falade argued vehemently that, “Whatever motive or intent the media trial of Olanipekun SAN is set to achieve is dead on arrival”.
He submitted that the said statement was not made by the learned silk, nor was same sponsored by him.
“Our jurisprudence does not allow a man to suffer for what another has done. If the bar will remain one then our suppose leaders should forget whatever happened in the last election and move ahead. We now notice non SANs looking at learned silks as not part of the bar.
“Please Mr president dont divide the bar before leaving a more unified bar is what we need to move the profession and its members ahead .
“Olanipekun is a revered leader and has no reason to step down as BOB chairman.We know of all that was done to stop his being the BOB chairman.
“Now a sponsored media trial to step aside or resign . If any section or any person anywere is not happy with our revered leader who is a pacesetter as far as the legal profession is concerned.
“I will advice in the interest of the profession such individuals bury their hatchets and celebrate achievers. No one knows tomorrow”. Falade added.