‘Influence peddling’ row: Body of Benchers doesn’t interfere with LPDC proceedings, says Olanipekun

Wole Olanipekun, chairman of the Body of Benchers (BoB), says the body does not interfere with the activities of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

His comment comes days after the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) called for Olanipekun’s resignation in the wake of a petition filed against a lawyer in his chambers before the LPDC.

The NBA had, in a petition sent on July 20, asked the LPDC to prosecute Adekunbi Ogunde, a partner in the law firm of Wole Olanipekun, over “professional misconduct”.

In the petition, NBA also asked the committee to consider whether the partners of the firm of Wole Olanipekun & Co. are not liable to be disciplined alongside Ogunde.

Ogunde had, in June, admitted to sending an email to SAIPEM Contracting Nigeria Ltd, soliciting a brief.

Despite being aware that the law firm of Henry Ajumogobia, a senior advocate of Nigeria, is handling the matter, Ogunde asked SAIPEM to consider hiring Olanipekun & Co, adding that the founder has more “influence” with judges across all courts.

In a letter dated July 22 and addressed to Olanipekun, Olumide Akpata, NBA chairman, said Olanipekun could influence the processes of the LPDC, since the committee is under the supervision of the Body of Benchers chairman.

Speaking on Wednesday at the call-to-bar ceremony of newly-inducted lawyers, the senior advocate said the LPDC does not influence the outcome of matters brought before the commission.

“The Body of Benchers does not and will not interfere with any of the proceedings or outcome of such proceedings before the LPDC,” he said.

“It is important to point out that the LPDC is not an avenue for dealing with perceived enemies or ventilation of grievances against fellow lawyers on personal issues.

“The decision of the LPDC is known as direction, and any appeal against the direction goes directly to the supreme court.”

Addressing the new lawyers, Olanipekun warned them against “forum shopping”, whereby litigants and legal practitioners shop for “friendly venues and judices” to file and litigate otherwise frivolous and questionable causes, purportedly arising out of the jurisdictions where the actions are eventually filed, pursued and prosecuted.

“This ugly practice is permeating the entire Nigerian legal landscape, leading to the churning out, on a regular basis, of conflicting orders and decisions of courts of coordinate jurisdictions,” he said.

“As a result of this as well, the legal profession is being brought to disrepute and opprobrium, leading to tirades, venoms and uncomplimentary remarks and sentences being passed on the legal profession and some of our judges.

“Be informed that the Body of Benchers, by virtue of the powers conferred on it by section 10 (1)(c) of the Legal Practitioners Act, has now set up a regulations committee, empowered to make regulations for the decent practice of law in Nigeria.

“The committee has submitted draft regulations to the Body of Benchers and the regulations, when approved, will become binding on all legal practitioners, who will be restricted to initiating and filing causes and matters where the said causes of action arise or as provided by the rules of the adjudicating courts.

“Just as it is provided under the Matrimonial Causes Rules, lawyers will be required to sign and file certain forms and documents, indicating compliance with the regulations before filing any originating process at trial courts. Any infraction or breach of the regulations would amount to professional misconduct.”