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Tag: Babalakin

  • Poor leadership worries Babalakin

    Poor leadership worries Babalakin

    IGERIA keeps having problems because it had abandoned merit, a Senior Advocate, Dr. Wale Babalakin, has said.

    Warning that a system that abandoned merit could not rule, he explained that mediocres are in charge of the country.

    Babalakin spoke at a seminar marking the 60th Anniversary of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan Chapter with the theme: “Nigeria: At Tipping or Turning Point.”

    The event was held at the Aare Afe Babalola Bar Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

    “Nigeria is currently faced with economic issues among other problems. But I hope what this will do to us, will create a thinking nation.

    “We keep having problems because we have abandoned merit and a system that abandons merit cannot rule,” he said.

    The Bi-Courtney boss urged lawyers to develop themselves, adding that the greatest asset of a lawyer “is thinking”.

    He said: “Let us create what Ibadan represents. Appointment of the bench must be for those who want to be on the bench.”

    Mr. Asue Ighodalo, who chaired the event, said with the gloomy nature of things in the country, it “takes only the tough and good strategic planners to survive.”

    Ighodalo, who is the chairman of the NBA Section on Business Law, praised the Ibadan NBA chapter, saying history would always remember its contribution to the legal practice.

    He admonished lawyers to stop thinking of traditional times, urging them to think outside the box to find solutions to problems facing the profession.

    “There is no aspect of human endeavour the law doesn’t cover. Law is life; it is the bedrock of the society. It protects the society and as human activities expand, there’s need to expand our services too.

    “You need to be dynamic, efficient, flexible, skillful and a problem solver. The world has become more global and it demands for specialised legal services. Anyone, who wants to survive, must develop expertise in other emerging sectors,” he said

    Urging the legal practitioners to embrace continuous legal education, he called on successful legal practitioners to mentor the upcoming generation to return the shine to the city.

  • NBA honours Akinjide (SAN) ,Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), Babalakin others

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan branch will today  confer Lifetime Achievement Award  on  Chief R.O. A Akinjide, (SAN),  Aare AfeBabalola (SAN) Chief FolakeSolanke SAN, OFR; Hon. Justice Bola Babalakin, (JSC) (Rtd.);  Justice P. O. Aderemi, (JSC)  (Rtd.); Chief Bandele Aiku, (SAN) Justice D. E. A. Oguntoye (Rtd.); Chief Akin Delano (SAN), Chief S. P. A. Ajibade Chief M.L. Lagunju, Chief Emmanuel Abiodun, Justice Omotayo Onalaja, JCA (Rtd); Chief (Mrs) P.C. Ajayi-Obe, (SAN) and Justice Olayinka Ayoola  (Rtd) e.t.c. as part of the event marking its 60th year anniversary.

    The venue is the High Court of Justice Complex, Ring Road Ibadan and time is

    1.30pm

    This will be followed by the turning of the sword of the legend’s library

    The programmes marking the law week will begin  this morning with the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Augustin Alegeh (SAN) as the chief host while Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State will be the Special Guest of honour

    Venue: Aare Afe Babalola Iyaganku,                             Iyaganku, Ibadan

    Time:  9 a.m

     

    The programme continues tomorrow Wednesday,  with a Seminar: ‘From Ibadan to the uttermost parts…. developing expertise In emerging sectors’

    Venue: Aare Afe Babalola Bar Centre,                          Iyaganku Ibadan.

    Time:   9a.m

    Participants include: Pioneer chairman of the NBA Section on Business Law (SBL) Mr George Etomi, Current chairman of SBL  Mr. Asue Ighodalo,  Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Ogun State, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, Chairman, Bi- Courtney Group and CEO Rise respectively, Dr Wale Babalaki and   Toyosi Akerele.

    Event two will witness the great debate:  “Compulsory pupillage for new wigs: how desirable?”

    Venue: Aare Afe Babalola Bar Centre,                          Iyaganku, Ibadan.

    Time:    I p.m.

    Participants include the former President of the NBA,

    Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN (Chairman)

    Ibadan and Ilorin Branches (For)

    Osogbo and Lagos Branches (Against)

    Thursday, December 4, will witness: Health Walk & Prison Visitation/ Free Health Assessment

    Assembly point for health walk: House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan

    Assemble Time: 8.30 a.m.

    Assemble at House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan

    Start Walk from House of Chiefs through to UCH 2nd gate to Total Garden and turn left and walk to Agodi Junction, make U-Turn back towards Total Garden

    walk back to NMA Secretariat near Total Garden for the free health check

    Dress Code: Anniversary T-Shirt and cap (Available for sale at N2,000.00

    Commencement of Free health check at Oyo State Secretariat of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Opposite Newcastle Inn, Total Garden, Ibadan: Immediately after the Health Walk.

    Prison visitation by Exco with the Chief Judge of Oyo State for the commemoration of the toilets constructed for the Agodi Prisons and exercise of Prerogative of Mercy by the Chief Judge.

    There will be a football match and other games on Thursday evening

    Venue: Olubadan Stadium, Iyaganku,                            Ibadan.

    Time: 4 p.m.

    Chairperson: H.E. Chief (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi, First Lady of Oyo State

    There will be a  Mock Arbitration ‘The Failed Edifice’ on Friday

    Venue: Aare Afe Babalola Bar Centre,                          Iyaganku, Ibadan

    Time: 9.00 a.m.

    Chief Folake Solanke, SAN (Chairman)

  • Why housing remains a challenge, by Babalakin

    Why housing remains a challenge, by Babalakin

    NIGERIA may not achieve development in housing and construction, if the government continues to discourage individuals and private sector to complement its efforts, the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Dr. Wale Babalakin SAN, has said.

    Babalakin also argued that “unnecessary intervention” and “meddlesomeness” by the government in commercialisation of the housing scheme was part of the reason the nation was yet to witness the desired revolution in the housing sector.

    He spoke at the presentation of three books titled: Construction and Housing Nigeria, written by Prof. Kunle Wahab.

    He was the chairman of the event yesterday at the Julius Berger Hall of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

    Babalakin said: “There is nothing wrong in individuals providing the infrastructure for the convenience of the people and development of the nation. But a situation where the government of the day is at liberty to intervene unnecessarily after commercialisation of a service frustrates the efforts of individual to take the risk and help the government in carrying out its responsibility to the people”.

    He decried what he called the culture of politicisation of purely professional affairs, saying such practice had drawn the nation backward and impeded its effort to provide necessary infrastructure for the development of the country.

    He added: “We have seen cases where contracts of people to provide certain infrastructure are revoked and we begin to hear that they lost out because they don’t know how to play politics or because they did not belong to the right circles of politicians. Lobbying politicians in power to provide important service such as housing and construction kills the vision and spirit of individuals to invest.”

    The books, Babalakin said, would act as manuals for professionals in the fields of quantity surveying and building.

    He praised the author for providing “valuable literature” to the construction and building knowledge, adding: “The worst offence to commit in the world is to possess knowledge without disseminating it to young ones”.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje, who was represented by Director of Physical Planning, Mr. Peter Abimbola, said cost of materials and time delivery remained the challenges before the government to provide adequate housing for the citizens. He said the books should be professional companion of every government to over the challenge of housing.

    The event planning committee chairman, Mr. Jamiu Saka, noted that the three books have 37 chapters and contain manuscripts written in the 1970s.

    He described the author as a lover of knowledge, saying the funds to be raised from the book presentation would be disbursed to pay tuition fees of indigent students in higher institutions.

    Reviewing the books, the President of Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN), Mallam Hussaini Dikko, said the books were lasting memory and enduring legacy of the university teacher.

    He said: “The books are Prof Wahab’s contribution to literature in the field of quantity surveying, construction and building maintenance. The books are historical, contemporary and futuristic and address the challenges in the past and present.”

    Prof. Wahab hailed the guests and the people, who contributed to the publishing of the books.

    Present at the event were dignitaries, including an elder statesman, Chief Rasheed Gbaamosi; Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Oluwole Ojikutu; Onibeshe of Ibesheland, Oba Richard Odusanya and Abike Dabiri-Erewa, among others.

  • Babalakin decries high moral decadence

    Babalakin decries high moral decadence

    The Chairman of Bi-Courteny, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has decried the high moral decadence in the society.

    He spoke yesterday at the Chevron Recreation Club Hall, Gbagada, Lagos, at the launch of a foundation, the Muslim for Education Development and Literacy Advocacy Foundation (MEDLAF).

    Babalakin, who was the chairman of the event, said government, corporate bodies, groups and individuals should curb moral decadence “to enable our nation regain its lost glory.”

    He hailed MEDLAF for embarking on a good initiative, which would help the society.

    The foundation president, Mr. Yunus Adogba, also condemned high moral decadence, attributing it to the lack of a balanced education.

    Said he: “We are all witnesses to the decadence in our society today. Are Muslims not part of the perpetrators? If truly they are, then why? MEDLAF identifies the lack of balanced education as responsible for more than 50 per cent immoralities among Muslims.

    “Balanced information/education is a process where a person acquires the spiritual and conventional education without one hindering the other. Our clamour is that every Muslim child must be educated and the education should not be one sided.

    “Government alone cannot do this unless we want to deceive ourselves. We must praise the courage of the proprietors/proprietress of Islamic schools and support them. To encourage ‘charge less and give bigger’ operating system among Islamic private schools, training and re-training of their teachers at no cost is MEDLAF’s priority. Providing an opportunity for the rich Muslims to train their children in a status-match environment has also been considered by the foundation. This led to our proposed school.”

    Adogba said membership of the foundation was open to regular and sponsored members, adding that for as low as N5,000 people could be bona fide members.

    The President of Islamic Network for Development, Alhaja Amatul-Khaeel Oshodi, hailed Islamic missions, such as Ahmadiyya, Ansar-Ud-Deen, Anwar-Ul-Islam and others for promoting education and encouraging the teaching of morals in schools.

    She enjoined groups, organisations and individuals to emulate them.

  • Babalakin, others want charges quashed

    The  Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Dr. Wale Babalakin and his co-defendants have asked a Lagos High Court, Ikeja to quash the charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The EFCC arraigned Babalakin on  a 27-count charge for fraudulently transferring N4.7 billion for the convicted former governor of Delta State, James Ibori.

    Charged with Babalakin are Alex Okoh, Stabilini Vision Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited.

    The EFCC had alleged that Babalakin and his co-defendants fraudulently assisted Ibori to transfer the money through various parties to Erin Aviation account in Mauritius to buy a plane.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter presided over by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, the defendants through their counsel, Dr. Biodun Layonu (SAN), Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Mr. O. Akinosun argued that the suit was incompetent, urging the court to quash it.

    Layonu, counsel to Babalakin, argued that it was unconstitutional for two distinct prosecuting authorities to prosecute one individual.

    Layonu, who claimed to have conducted  research on the matter, said he was  yet to come across  any legal instance where such  happened.

    Layonu challenged the prosecutor to furnish the court with such an instance, where two institutions prosecuted an individual.

    He prayed  the court to dismiss the case if the prosecution failed to do so.

    “Our submission is that it (joint-prosecution) is unknown to Law. There is no judicial authority to support it. If they fail to show that it has foundation in Law, then it is a nullity,” he said.

    He said even if joint-prosecution was allowed, the Attorney-General of the Federation was not represented on the statement of charge.

    Counsel to  Okoh,  Oyetibo (SAN), also urged the court to quash the charges. He argued that the suit was unconstitutional, noting that the charge did not contain the offences alleged.

    He said the first duty of the Constitution is to ensure that the offence is contained in the charge as claimed.

    According to Oyetibo, this is not a technical requirement but that it is of high constitutional importance.

    “All the counts did not disclose criminal conduct of what James Ibori did. Nothing in the proof of evidence that support the count against the defendants, second defendant in particular”

    “It is an abuse of the court to file a criminal charge against the defendants in a case where the proof of evidence does not support the alleged charge.

    Such a proceeding would be oppressive”, he submitted.

    Akinosun, who is the counsel to fifth defendant alligned himself  with the submission of Layonu and Oyetibo.

    He also urged the court to quash the charges on similar grounds.

    Justice Lawal-Akapo however adjourned the matter till July 14 to enable the court to hear submissions of the other two defendants in the case.

  • N4.7b money laundering charge: PHCN scuttles hearing of Babalakin’s no case submission application

    N4.7b money laundering charge: PHCN scuttles hearing of Babalakin’s no case submission application

    The epileptic supply of electricity to  Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, last Friday stalled the hearing of no case submission filed by Bi- Courtney Chairman, Dr. Olawale Babalakin.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  had charged Babalakin, Okoh and their firms Bi-Courtney Limited; Stabilini Visioni Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited to court over an alleged illegal transfer of N4.7b on behalf of convicted former Delta State Governor, James Ibori.

    The defendants are facing a 27-count charge bordering on money laundry, conspiracy, retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct and corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action.

    They were charged before the court presided by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo.

    The first attempt by Babalakin to argue his no case submission application was stalled at the last appearance in court owing to the fact that counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), had health issues.

    Justice Lawal-Akapo had then adjourned the matter till last Friday for argument.

    However, epileptic supply from the PHCN to the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja also prevented the judge from sitting last week.

    Consequently, Justice Akapo-Lawal had to fix  April 30, 2014 for hearing of argument on the pending application.

    At the last proceeding, the judge said he only got the case file about 20 minutes before the commencement of the proceeding.

    He informed both parties on the need to study the details of the charges  in order to be on top of the situation.

    The defendants had in various applications filed by their counsels challenged the money laundering charges preferred against them by the agency.

    They  also queried the jurisdiction of the court to try them on the alleged offences on the ground that it is only the Federal High Court that can try them.

    They had in the same applications argued that the EFCC did not secure the fiat of the Lagos State Attorney-General to commence the trial at the Lagos High Court.

    The prosecution counsel, led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) told the court that he had filed objections to the applications.

     

  • N4.7bn fraud: Outage stalls hearing of Babalakin’s application

    N4.7bn fraud: Outage stalls hearing of Babalakin’s application

    Power outage on Friday stalled the hearing of an application by the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Ltd., Wale Babalakin, at an Ikeja High Court charged with a N4.7 billion fraud.

    Babalakin, in the application filed before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, had asked the court to dismiss the N4.7 billion fraud charge preferred against him and four others.

    The application could not be heard as scheduled because of power outage.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that courts in the Ikeja Division had been relying solely on two generators to provide power.

    One of the generators at the new court complex, where Lawal-Akapo’s courtroom is situated, was said to have developed a fault on Thursday, according to an official.

    NAN also reports that the situation led the court to adjourn the hearing of Babalakin’s application till April 30.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Babalakin and the other defendants to court on a 27-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct.

    They are also being charged with “corruptly conferring benefits on account of public action.’’

    Babalakin’s co-defendants — Alex Okoh, Stabilini Visioni Ltd., Bi-Courtney Ltd and Renix Nigeria Ltd — had also filed similar applications, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the case.

    They had also challenged the competence of the charges, arguing that the EFCC lacked the power to prosecute them at a state high court without a valid fiat.

  • Court adjourns Babalakin’s trial till February 17

    Court adjourns Babalakin’s trial till February 17

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Monday adjourned the trial of the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Wale Babalakin till February 17, to enable the defence lawyers to regularise their applications.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Babalakin is being prosecuted for an alleged N4.7 billion fraud before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged him for allegedly transferring the monies on behalf of convicted former Delta State Governor, James Ibori.

    He is standing trial alongside Alex Okoh and their companies – Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited, and Renix Nigeria Limited.

    The defendants are facing a 27-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct and corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action.

    During Monday’s proceedings, the judge informed the parties that he needed time to examine some of the processes filed by the defence lawyers.

    He said, “Apart from Roland Otaru (counsel to the third defendant), all the other applications were brought to my attention about 20 minutes ago.

    “In a matter of this nature, it is always good to study the processes and ask pertinent questions as the matter goes along.

    “What I will suggest is that counsel to the defendants sit and identify all these processes and their facts to be sure that all the processes are filed.’’

     

     

  • Money laundering: Babalakin challenges court’s jurisdiction to hear suit

    Money laundering: Babalakin challenges court’s jurisdiction to hear suit

    The Chairman, Bi-Courtney Limited, Chief Olawale Babalakin, on Monday challenged the jurisdiction of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, to entertain the N4.7 billion fraud charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Babalakin is being tried by the commission alongside four others – Alex Okoh, Stabilini Vision Limited, his company Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited for fraudulently transferring N4.7billion out of the country on behalf of the convicted former governor of Delta State, James Ibori.

    The defendants were billed for a fresh arraignment before a new trial judge, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo.

    This was sequel to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo to the Commercial Division of the High Court from the Criminal Division.

    The EFCC had alleged that Babalakin and other defendants fraudulently assisted Ibori to transfer huge sums of money through various parties to Erin Aviation account in Mauritius for the purchase of a Challenger Jet aircraft.

    They had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the anti- agency.

    At the resumed trial on Monday, Babalakin and co-defendants rejected being arraigned on the basis of their pending applications, challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

    But counsel to EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) expressed disappointment that Babalakin was not in court.

    He urged the court to revoke the bail earlier granted to him for failing to attend proceedings twice.

    He argued that Babalakin’s absence in court was a breach of his bail conditions and that the act was disrespectful to the court.

    But Babalakin’s counsel, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN) urged the court to discountenance Jacob’s appeal for revocation of Babalakin’s bail.

    Akoni submitted that Babalakin’s absence was on the ground of his pending application, challenging the charges and jurisdiction of the court.

     

  • Babalakin mourns Iyayi

    A former chairman of Committee of Pro-Chancellors and Chairman of BiCourtney Group, Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN, has expressed shock at the tragic manner in which the former President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Festus Iyayi, died on Tuesday in Lokoja, Kogi State, while on his way to Kano for a meeting of the union’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

    Babalakin, who was the chairman of the Implementation Monitoring Committee of the Federal Government of Nigeria/University-based Unions Agreement 2009, regretted that Iyayi’s death was a sad development and a set-back to the current effort to halt the prolonged industrial action by ASUU.

    The respected lawyer however said Prof. Iyayi’s death, as sad and regrettable as it was, should serve as a nudge to the whole nation on areas of our national life that require urgent and sincere attention.

    In a statement yesterday, Dr. Babalakin commiserated with the leadership and members of ASUU as well as the immediate family members and friends of the astute professors,on the tragic death.