At NEC Meeting next week, NBA Integrity Group (NIG), vows to demand that NEC addresses conclusively, this issue of Chief Olanipekun SAN.
Petition against him by late Lucius Nwosu SAN, was tabled on the floor of NEC and Olumide Akpata appealed to NEC to await the outcome of intervention by Elders.
NBA NEC will have no moral grounds to entertain the looting of conference materials during Lagos AGC, if it cannot boldly demand that the issues carried forward by Akpata’s NEC are conclusively resolved. One of such issues, is;
10.5 Suitability of Wole Olanipekun, SAN to assume Chairmanship of the Body of Benchers
We need to know what’s the outcome of that intervention.
Below is excerpt of the NEC meeting as published by Dr. Rapuluchukwu, NBA Publicity Secretary as he then was.
“The President informed NEC that that he received two letters from Learned Silk Lucius Nwosu, SAN, one bordering on the pendency of a suit he had instituted in Port Harcourt challenging tire suitability of the NBA Past President, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN to assume the office of the Chairman, Body of Benchers and another letter received; and the other notifying the President of the withdrawal of the matter he had instituted in Court having been prevailed upon by some members of the profession.
He stated further that notwithstanding the second letter, Learned Silk Lucius Nwosu had insisted that Chief Wole Olanipekun has a pending suit in Court that bothered on his integrity and as such, not fit to assume the position.
The President informed members that the matter had been referred to the Elders of the NBA for a definite resolve.
Reacting to the Presidents statements, Asamah Kadiri, SAN suggested that the issue be left as it is since the Elders were already looking into it.
Mr. Monday Adjeh, Chairman NBA Bwari Branch was of the opinion that double standards should be avoided.
He advised that the letter (s) should be tendered before the house to consider whether there is merit and thereafter NEC should take a decision on it.
He opined that there was no need to set up any special committee to look into the issue as the law applies to all and should not be made to apply only to some set of members of the Association.
The President in response to the reactions said the person in question is a Past President of the Association who should be given all sense of respect and that deliberations by the Elders is a first step. Thereafter, further steps would be taken. He appealed to members to await outcome of the intervention.
Asamah Kadiri, SAN moved a motion that the matter be stepped down pending the outcome of the intervention by the Committee. M. T Mohammed, Chairman NBA Kaduna Branch seconded the motion.”
