The Justice Reform Project has requested that Chief Wole Olanikpenkun, SAN, “step down from his position as Chairman of the Body of Benchers to enable investigations to be concluded with the requisite confidence.”
The body made its position known through a statement made available to newsmen, titled “A STAND FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE NIGERIAN LEGAL PROFESSION”.
According to the body, the recusal of Olanikpekun from the body of the bencher should ordinarily have been the first step before the letter of recusal, in the light of the peculiarities of the situation. The body noted that such an act of self-recusal would ordinarily “not be a mark of culpability, (but) it would be a matter of responsibility and honor.”
Speaking on the supervisory role of the Body of Benchers over the LPDC, the group notes that “the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) is a committee of the Body of Benchers, and even though it is a separate and independent arm of the Body of Benchers, members of the LPDC are nominated and appointed by the Body of Benchers, usually by the Chairman.
“The learned silk’s continued stay in office is, consequently, an indiscretion that will come at a cost to the integrity of our profession.”
The group condemned the tribal sentiments, allegations of witch-hunting or ulterior motives being stoked by senior members of the bar” as not being helpful to the image of the profession.
According to the group, “the innuendos in the learned silk’s speech at the Call to Bar the ceremony, suggesting that opposing views were indicative of a ‘pulling down syndrome’, can only reinforce the call for his resignation, even though a formal complaint against him has not been lodged.
The group commended the NBA leadership for taking a bold new stride towards “upholding the standards of our profession, even in circumstances involving a man who commands an enormous amount of respect from the entire profession”, describing the action as a “test of our will to revive (a) dying profession and, all of us, including the learned silk, have a responsibility to put the profession first in circumstances like this”.
Speaking further on the proper approach to have been taken by the NBA leadership, the groups noted that “while comments on whether this show of courtesy was necessary will remain divisive given their cultural rather than legal underpinnings, it is important not to lose sight of the issues on the ground.
“The factual inconsistencies regarding the delivery of the letter are also a relatively small matter. The NBA leadership has done its job. Their actions have marked a new era in the enforcement of ethical standards in the legal profession and we must all stand behind the NBA to ensure the integrity of our profession.”
JRP was set up in February 2019 during the unlawful removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON. JRP has its membership cutting across senior and junior lawyers. The group co-hosted the recent Justice Sector Summit.
Among the signatories to the statement were Messrs Ebun Sofunde SAN, Kayode Sofola SAN, Kola Awodein SAN, Ademola Akinrele SAN, Eyimofe Atake SAN, Olufunke Adekoya SAN, Oluwafemi Atoyebi SAN, Yemi Candide-Johnson SAN, Olasupo Shasore SAN, Babatunde Ajibade SAN, Osaro Eghobamien SAN, Babatunde Fagbohunlu SAN, Wemimo Ogunde SAN, and Jibrin Okutepa SAN. Others Messrs Olumide Sofowora SAN, Ernest Ojukwu SAN, Olatunde Adejuyigbe SAN, Adewale Olawoyin SAN, Adeniyi Adegbonmire SAN and Oyesoji Oyeleke SAN.
