The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Olanipekun

  • Varsity to honour Olanipekun

    Varsity to honour Olanipekun

    The management of Babcock University, Ilishan Remo in Ogun State has said it would confer a honorary degree of Doctor of Law and Administration on a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN.

    The university said that Chief Olanipekun would be decorated and conferred with the honorary degree during the forthcoming 17th convocation ceremony of the university slated for July 28.

    The President and Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ademola .S Tayo in a   letter, said the newly inaugurated chairman and Pro-chancellor of the University of Lagos(UNILAG) was picked for the prestigious honour for his untiring and unmatched contributions to the nation’s legal profession.

    The letter partly reads: “Upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees, and by the authority of the Governing Council and Senate of Babcock University, I am delighted to convey to you the decision of the university to confer on you the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law and Administration.

    Read Also: NiMet, Ogun govt sign MoU to build weather station at cargo airport

     “The decision to confer on you this award is in recognition of your lifetime of extraordinary achievements in the legal profession, high intellectual profundity, deep understanding of the applicability of the principles of law that demonstrate both a transformative impact and standard of excellence that provide, through example, inspiration to graduates of law.

     “The university also recognises your leadership accomplishments in university administration, public service, and volunteerism. You have dedicated your life to serving this country with a patriotic zeal, and answering the call to duty in a career that spans many decades.

     “You have exhibited these qualities across the spectrum of the cases you have handled, whether in litigation and dispute resolution, pre- and post- election dispute resolution, commercial or corporate dispute resolution. These are some of the values that we, as an institution, cherish and live by, and you deserve to be recognised for them”, the letter stated.

  • M.T. African Pride: Olanipekun ascribes Admiral Agbiti’s triumph to strong judicial system

    M.T. African Pride: Olanipekun ascribes Admiral Agbiti’s triumph to strong judicial system

    Twenty years after his ordeal in the hands of the Nigerian Navy, friends, family and eminent Nigerians, yesterday, gathered to celebrate former Chief of Training and Operations at the Navy headquarters, Rear Admiral Francis Agbiti (Rtd.), in Abuja.

    The event was not only the unveiling of a book titled, AGBITI: Admiral, Patriot and Gentleman, written by Fabian Owoicho but was also an opportunity to reminisce on the travails of the retired Naval Officer while in service, as many poured out encomiums on his innocence and patriotic service to the country.

    Agbiti, a native of Adoka in Benue State, was in 2004 implicated in the missing popular vessel, known as M.T. African Pride, leading to his summary court martial and his eventual victory at the Supreme Court.

    Foremost Constitutional Lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said it took the grace of God and the strong judicial system in Nigeria at the time, for the retired Naval Officer to get justice at the Supreme Court.

    “We are here today to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. They call it MT African Pride, that’s the name of the vessel. But the trial was African shame. It was a shame to even what we call the trials in the military, before the military tribunal. We saw it. We witnessed this, witnessed everything with our naked eyes.

    “Inhumanity of man to man, injustice melted by fellow officers, to their superior or subordinates officers to their superior, and also his own colleagues, his peers within the military. They just wanted him out.

    “The essence of this gathering today is also to plead with us in Nigeria or as Nigerians and also powers. That power is transient. They used power against this gentleman. I was there, I saw it all. The government of the day used power against him. They wanted to get rid of him by all means and at all cost.

    “They were even threatening him, threatening him not to appeal to the Supreme Court, that they would get rid of him.

    “But we thank God, for the eminence, for the superiority of justice. Had there been no law, had there been no institution of the judiciary? It would have been worse than animals. You have read that book, the animal farm would have been worse than what happened in the animal farm.

    “But thank God for the institution of the judiciary. Thank God for the men, for the characters that empanelled the Supreme Court, or the men that constituted that panel of the Supreme Court that adjudicated on his matter. It didn’t take them minutes. They were asking even the prosecuting counsel, will you oppose this appeal? They were referring him to pages of the records. Are you sure even the panel was properly constituted? Are you sure this evidence should have come in? Are you convinced even about the arraignment? Are you convinced about the way and manner they stood on the constitution of Nigeria even under the military enactments?

    “And at the end of the day, Supreme Court came to the unanimous conclusion that everything done to him was a nullity. The Supreme Court didn’t go further to consider even the evidence, which, you know, there was no evidence at all. There was nothing. Everything was concocted.

    “But then legally, Supreme Court said and agreed. Constitutionally, the Supreme Court agreed with us. It was a nullity. So it might be you, it might be me”, he said.

    Olanipekun tasked Nigerian lawyers to continue to uphold the tenet of selflessness and humanitarian, urging those in power to rule with the fear of God.

    Read Also: FG says recruitment into Immigration, Fire service, others begins August

    He said,: “The essence of what I said today is that we lawyers should be more appreciated by the society than what the society thinks about us. Lawyers are very sympathetic, they are very empathetic, they are humans. And also they appreciate the travails of their clients.

    “But more often than not, people believe that lawyers are suckers, that they are always looking after money.

    “The gentleman, the patriot, the officer mentioned it today that we did not appear for him because of money, but because we believed that he deserved justice.

    “Now, the essence of it all is that in this country we should be reflective. We should look back at what we have, where we are coming from, where we are today, what we want our country to become tomorrow.

    “I made reference to some lines in the national anthem – Oh God of all creation, grant this one request – that we will be a nation where no man is oppressed; that our flag shall be our symbol, should be a symbol of justice and truth, of honesty.

    “Let us live to the wordings, to the content, to the tenor, to the spirit, to the aim, to the ambition, to the aspiration of the wordings of the national anthem.

    “And I want to, as a senior citizen of this country, plead with all of us, those in power today, those of us who are there also today, we must not support evil.

    “And to those of us in the legal profession, I want to plead that we must at all times be bold enough, particularly in criminal matters, to defend our clients. We should be polite to the courts, we should be humble in our presentation, but we must be firm”.

    On his part, Retired Real Admiral Agbiti recounted how he was framed up by his subordinates and peers twenty years ago, during his military career and how Chief Olanipekun came through for him, thanking God for putting his enemies to shame.

    He urged the judiciary to make justice available to all that deserves it, devoid of any considerations.

    Agbiti said, “My suggestion is that, they should strive to become good, so that justice will be for all without partiality and without consideration of status of individuals. That’s what I would say.

    “So justice by itself is very good. If it is not justice, he could not have defended me down to Supreme Court for us to win. And what I need to state here, is that the Justice at the Appeal Court, he told me that I had no ground of appeal, but God of justice, when he ran into trouble, he also sought for appeal, but he was told that he had no ground of appeal.

    “So justice is from the throne of God. If you do injustice, God is angry with you. And if you do justice, God will be happy with you and he will bless you. So that is what it is about our justice system.

    “I’m from Nigeria Navy. What I will tell you, as Flag Officer Commander, I think, more than anyone else, I arrested more illegal ships involved in crude oil theft and the refund.

    “And some other officers, like you heard the testimony of Rear Admiral Apochi. There are very many good officers pursuing the interest of a national wellbeing.

    “And corruption, it has to be fought headlong. But I dare say that the current approach will not do us much good because it is being politicized. Those that are involved, they are the rich people. They are the politicians, not the military. The military are there to protect the national interest, to defend the national interest. Not the military, but the rich and the politicians.

    “And like I testified over there, it was the son of the power that be, that was involved in that M.T. African Pride. But the innocent had been persecuted. So corruption has to be stemmed from above and let it be sent to the classroom”.

  • Olanipekun: Towards a better UNILAG

    Olanipekun: Towards a better UNILAG

    • By Sunday Saanu

    One of the positive attributes of President Bola Tinubu is his sensitivity to the public opinion. In response to the demand of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which gave a seven-day ultimatum for government to constitute governing councils for the federal universities, government came up with an appointment list of new council chairmen and their members, thus, putting an end to the agitation. That is good. But could this not have been done before the agitation and ultimatum? Government should be more proactive by addressing danger on time before it becomes an emergency!

         However, governing council is central to the progress of any university. It is the highest ruling body, regulating the activities of a sitting Vice Chancellor who heads the administrative structure. Perusing the list, it was such a cheer to see that former Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Ibadan (UI), Chief Wole Olanipekun has again been appointed as University of Lagos (UNILAG) Council Chairmen . Let it be said that the appropriateness of this particular appointment is unassailable. While President Tinubu deserves kudos in this regard, Akoka should roll out drums in celebration of a new dawn.

    Universities are the resource bases of the nation. They are places of light, learning and liberty. The purpose of universities is to provide rational explanations and meaning to society, shape new individuals through teaching, and create new possibilities through research. But unfortunately, university system in Nigeria is still tottering. Its survival is still far from being assured. So much has been put into making the system to work, a lot more still needs to be done. Obviously, government alone cannot shoulder the responsibilities, no matter how much it pretends. The survival of the system solicits the support of private sector and well-to-do individuals.

    University of Lagos, like universities of Ibadan, Ife, Ilorin, Benin, Calabar, Jos, Maiduguri among others are federal institutions of class which deserve special attention on account of their pedigrees and contributions to national development. Those appointed to lead governing council of these institutions are however expected to be highly distinguished and notably influential, capable of generating resources to lift these universities. Leading these universities is not only tough; but tasking, given multifaceted challenges in the system.

     Perhaps it is against this backdrop that one is motivated to cite Chief Wole Olanipekun as a quintessential mode for those who are interested in knowing what it takes to lead a university council. Chief Olanipekun; with this latest appointment, is one of the few Nigerians who have rare opportunities of leading two prestigious federal universities and a private institution with a streak of successes, trailing his engagements.

     In 2009, the then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua appointed this legal colossus as Pro-chancellor and chairman of council of Nigeria’s premier university of Ibadan (UI). As soon as he came to Ibadan, miracle began to manifest. He leveraged on his closeness with the then President to get a huge amount of money released for the betterment of UI. With the money, UI opened up its second phase in Ajibode for more infrastructural development and campus expansion. Determined to make the university better than he met it, this legal icon rejected his constitutional sitting allowance,  directing the bursary department to use the money as scholarship for students in Law, Computer Science and Medicine. To avoid any scandal, he never indicated interest in any contract, neither did he surreptitiously introduce any contractor to the management of the University.

    The point cannot be overstated that he kept spending his own personal money for UI instead of taking from UI. For instance, when in 2011, UI was ravaged by flood, Chief Olanipekun personally donated N10million for the amelioration of the disaster. Again, towards the end of tenure, this Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) built and donated a 400-sitting capacity lecture theatre in Ajibode, called Wole Olanipekun lecture theatre.

     No sooner he concluded his tenure in UI than the Anglican Communion, the proprietor of Ajayi Crowther University (ACU) appealed to him to come and replicate his feats at UI in Oyo. In his characteristic benevolence, he took up the chairmanship of the council at ACU and began to deploy his resources and talents to uplift the faith-based University. He personally built and donated the Vice Chancellor’s lodge.

    Read Also: NIN: NIMC warns against data harvest portals

    Amazingly, a reliable source informed this writer that when Chief Olanipekun got to ACU, the university was in a poor financial position. It was borrowing money from banks to pay salaries. Shockingly, when a particular bank asked ACU to provide collateral to obtain loans, Chief Olanipekun was said to have offered himself as collateral. Seeing his bank balance, the bank quickly obliged ACU the request. Today, ACU is financially self-sustaining, paying salaries on the 25th of every month.

          If indeed, we know what a man can do by what he has done, it is therefore realistic and reasonable to expect that UNILAG will be better, bigger and richer with the coming of Chief Olanipekun. He is certainly going to do far more than what he did in UI and ACU for Akoka because it is his alma mata. He graduated from the university in 1975 with a Bachelor of Law degree. With him, UNILAG will grow and go fast from slowdown to success.

    With the benefit of hindsight, let me state with unmistakable exactitude that this great man of legal profession who characteristically carries greatness lightly is coming back to Akoka as council chairman to use his voice for kindness, his ears for compassion, his hands for generosity and his heart for love. He is coming with an authority of experience. He is coming to hold aloft the ideals that promote academic excellence. He is bringing illuminative panache.

    Without doubt, when it comes to university governance, structure and administration, Chief Olanipekun is not a fresh sailor at sea. He is a veteran of sort. Clearly, he is a titan in boardroom battles. I am so certain that from the inaugural meeting, the Vice Chancellor, amiable and delectable Prof. Folashade Ogunsola and her management team will be struck by the force of a gentle soul with a mental magnitude that belies gentility. UNILAG Management will feel the imprimatur of his positive vibes as well as the scent of his smile. He is always at peace with elevated arguments, garnished with facts and figures while he hates pettifogging issues with chicanery.

     Having interacted with him in the last 15 years when we met in UI, I can boldly assert that Chief Olanipekun, being a first-class lawyer in this country is one council chairman who wages war against deceit, runs races for the truth and he is not among those who hunt money and sell lies. Being a private sector player, he hates lethargy which is commonplace in public service. To him, eternal sameness is anathema to the principle of human progress and social development. He has a reputation for incisive analyses backed by electrifying brain power. His language is robust and non-offensive with an aristocratic finesse. He has respect for knowledge and scholarly enterprise as he is racy, but largely restrained. He will never engage in any deal that will make a mess of the wise, neither does he fall fool gladly.

    Indeed, the optics are good for UNILAG. Aside having a solid deep pocket, coupled with network of influence, Chief Olanipekun knows the game and how to cultivate the process. He is a strategic conveyor belt that will deliver the goods and services for Akokites. That is probably the reason he has been appointed. There is no doubting the fact that his appointment is a source of succor for his former school.            Matter of factly speaking, unlike greedy people who drain from those dying of dearth without giving a hoot, Chief Olanipekun, with his superlative fame, based on his accomplishments, does not see his appointments as an opportunity for personal gains or mercantile interest, rather, he is out to render selfless service pro bono. I can therefore declare that under his watch in UNILAG, rats will squeak as they wont and birds will tweeter in their traditionally known voices.

    Everyone has a role to play in saving public university education. The system must not be allowed to collapse. Collapse of public university education is the collapse of the nation. The system requires the like of Chief Olanipekun who believes that what we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. But what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. He is one of the happiest people who love to give more and more to noble causes. Interestingly, he gives without expectation of receiving anything in return.

     Since UNILAG is his alma mata, should it therefore be any surprise if he goes extra mile to lift the university far higher than he did in UI and ACU? He will certainly live beyond expectation as his wealth of experience has molded him into a titan of propriety in public service. He will make the sacrifice for he believes that any service without sacrifice is a lip service.

    •Saanu (08034073427) is on sabbatical at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.

  • Ex-NSA Gusau, Olanipekun join push for state police

    Ex-NSA Gusau, Olanipekun join push for state police

    The call to decentralise the policing structure got the backing of former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau, and former Body of Benchers Chairman, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), yesterday.

    Gusua, speaking at the passing-out ceremony of the new Community Protection Guard by Zamfara State Government, advocated for state police.

    He said: “With an estimated population of 223.8 million and a diverse terrain covering 923,768 square kilometres, Nigeria is a difficult country to secure.

    “Therefore, expecting a single Police Force to patrol and control such a large and complex nation effectively is a very tall order indeed.

    “The time has come for us to rethink this strategy in the best interest of our country.

    Read Also; How currency redesign, electoral uncertainties affected 2023 revenue, by Customs CG

    “Currently, innocent lives are lost daily as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, organised crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and cultism become the order of the day in theatres across Nigeria.

    “While perpetrators now act with impunity, additional deployment of the military to hotspots has not achieved the desired results.

    “Therefore, this initiative by Zamfara State Government which compliments activities of regular police force within the ambit of the law is the right way to go.”

    Gusau, a former Minister of Defence and Director of Military Intelligence (DMI) said for the state police or community guards initiative to succeed, strategic consideration must be given to creating an “appropriate support structure across the board.

    He stressed that security is a community effort and the responsibility of all.

    Olanipekun, while delivering the 40th convocation lecture of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, faulted the centralised policing structure, which he said is against the principle of federalism.

    Calling for restructuring, the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president said: “In terms of security, how do we have a Federal Government with federating states where the governors do not have any jurisdiction or power over the security systems or apparati in their state; yet a governor is casually labelled as the Chief Security Officer of his state!”

    “He does not appoint the Commissioner of Police in his state as all he hears is the deployment of a Commissioner of Police to his state. He has no say, even in the deployment.

    “We should stop deceiving ourselves by sending police commissioners from any state in the North to the Southwest or the Southeast or vice versa when such police commissioners have never been to such places before or have any idea or knowledge of the language or dialect of the people.”

  • Bamidele, Olanipekun seek concerted efforts to tackle poverty

    Bamidele, Olanipekun seek concerted efforts to tackle poverty

    The Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, and the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, have called for a concerted effort to lift Nigerians out of poverty.

    The duo said that it was unfortunate that poverty has become a scourge in Nigeria, saying that over 70 percent of the country’s population is currently living below the poverty line.

    They made the remarks at Ikere-Ekiti, in Ikere Council Area of Ekiti State during the 27th edition of the Wole Olanipekun Foundation Scholarship Award Scheme & 4th Empowerment Programme hosted by the legal luminary.

    The foundation gave out scholarships to 250 students ranging from secondary to university levels/ law school education, empowerment to 100 youths, 100 aged and widows grants and palliatives to 600 beneficiaries.

    The Senate leader noted that Nigeria can’t be okay when the vast majority of her citizens are poverty-stricken, urging the elites in the society to show concern by assisting the government to lend a helping hand to the people.

    He lamented that Nigerians are facing hardship in different dimensions due to poor economic management of the past, saying efforts are ongoing by the current administration to put things right.

    He urged privileged people who have gone through the mentorship of Chief Olanipekun to learn from him how to give back to society and give succour to the less privileged.

    In his speech delivered at the occasion, Olanipekun said: “We have a lot of people today in this country who are hungry. There are a lot of people who are naked and poverty-stricken. So many people are roaming the streets because they are jobless and cannot make ends meet.

    Read Also: FG advances plans for local vaccine manufacturing

    “A lot of people are thinking like that widow in the Bible that let take this last meal and die. We must lift them up. We must touch them. To those who may think that they have made it and we are okay. We are not okay.”

    He said that the poverty level in the country is not just scary but also terrifying.” The situation does beckons on those who have received God’s benevolence to also tap from God’s attribute of compassion by lending hands to their fellow men.”

    In his own remarks, Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji called on the Ekiti elites to emulate Chief Afe Babalola and Chief Wole Olanipekun’s philanthropic gestures by coming back home to help the people.

    “I appeal to other indigenes of Ekiti State to please come home and assist our people. I was looking at the brochure and over 600 people are going to benefit one way or another. I want the beneficiaries to float an association to start preparing to give back to the people.

    “The government is trying to create access and opportunity for Ekiti indigenes to thrive. We will make it public at the appropriate time, and plan to support this foundation to help lift many people out of poverty in Ekiti.”

  • Olanipekun: Man of uncommon accomplishments steps higher

    Olanipekun: Man of uncommon accomplishments steps higher

    • By Sunday Saanu

    With the recent successful defence of President Bola Tinubu at the presidential election petition court, Chief Oluwole Oladapo Olanipekun, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) holds the distinction of a legal icon in the country who has defended the highest number of Nigerian Presidents in the court of law. He was a counsel to Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammad Buhari before the 2015 election. One should not even attempt to list the state governors he has used his legal knowledge and prowess to rescue from political oppression, cheating and intimidation.

         With his wiry frame, eel-like body dynamics depicting an eponymous figure; in addition to his awesome myth and meteoric greatness, Chief Olanipekun in the course of his professional journey that has earned him so much fame and fortunes, has smashed many cases to smithereens, almost effortlessly, with his opponents screaming like whose wounds have been stomped upon! He certainly knows the nuts and bolts of the profession like the back of his hand. Yet, remaining humble and harmless.

          An elder that he is, whose eyes have been made sunken by the troves of variegated sights he has witnessed, this iconic legal luminary who is 72 today is not only regal and resplendent, Chief Olanipekun is rich and righteous in Christ with excellent manners, sterling integrity,  just as he regularly comports himself with class and candour. Indeed, a perfect picture of geniality and civility.

           One-time President of Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), immediate past Chairman, Body of Benchers, one-time Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Ibadan, current Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Chairman of this, Chairman of that, and Chairman of everything else, Chief Olanipekun is clearly a man in his own world without wishy-washy equivocation.

          But how can a man parade this kind of enviable credentials without enemies? He certainly has many enemies in different places! Why? You may ask. The answer is simple. People like success, but hate successful individuals. We are in a world of competition, a world full of envy, malice and treachery. The good news is Chief Olanipekun is not a malice bearer. In many of our conversations, he will say, “Sunday, I will never think of evil towards anyone. My Bible does not teach me to hate people and destroy fellow beings”

         On account of his prestigious reputation, he is ever restrained from provocation.   His reaction to many attacks he has faced has always been, “no reaction”  When he was admonishing me on a particular case and the way I handled it, hear what he told me, “Sunday, ta lo ko e logbon, ti ko ko e lomugo?” meaning who taught you wisdom but failed to teach you the usefulness of assumed foolishness? This has been his philosophy in life. He chooses his battles. He doesn’t react to everything. He stands for whatever that is noble and honourable, yet,  so committed to the healing of the ill

        However, what are the sterling qualities that set him apart? Hard work and discipline. To him, there is no honest alternative to hard work. Obviously, this is one of the reasons he has attained the dizzy heights of stardom in his profession. If he is not in court, he is either in his expansive office reading and preparing for various cases he has,  or in church to serve His God. Chief Olanipekun is not a personality you see at every loud social engagement, dancing and sweating. His is a story of decency and dignity. You will like his courage and you will admire his carriage.

    Read Also: No more strike in varsities, Tinubu declares

          At 72, age hasn’t removed the spring in his steps. There is no mistaking that jaunty walk. He still crisscrosses the length and breadth of the country, practising what he knows how to do best. It could only have been God. In his office, and around him, everyone is held up to the highest standards of character and virtues. From his sartorial preferences to leadership styles, this living legend stands pretty tall and far away from the archetypal lot, providing selfless and service to humanity.

          Saying that he is as rich as the legendary Croesus is to affirm the obvious. Without doubt,  he is a mighty man of means. Fantastic! But that is not the point per se! The question is how has his wealth benefited the poor who are in the majority? At least, it is on record that over 80 percent of Nigerians are in multi-dimensional poverty. In fairness to Chief Olanipekun, he has done so much to alleviate poverty in the land in his own little way. For instance, he has established Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Board with which he spends a lot of money on a yearly basis to give education to the intelligent but indigent students from primary school level through secondary school and the university level.

          The Board which has been running over 25 years now has enabled so many students who would have otherwise ended up as hewers of woods to become graduates of different disciplines. I have also benefited from the scheme. Details will be revealed later. Beyond that, Chief Olanipekun has empowered so many youth to be so useful to themselves and to the society. It is also on record that wherever he finds himself, he will ensure he leaves behind an enduring legacy. Before he left as University of Ibadan Council Chairman, he built a 350 capacity lecture theatre and donated to the institution.

    At Ajayi Crowther University Oyo where he was Council Chairman, and now Chairman of Board of Trustees, he singlehandedly built Vice Chancellor’s Lodge. In his Ikere Ekiti country home, he built a modern church, hospital, court complex among others. These are just synopses of his numerous altruistic kind gestures. Chief Olanipekun is a special breed whose philanthropic profile is beyond compare!

     In recognition of his contributions to the society however, he has received numerous awards and honours. He was given Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2001, the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2014. These are in addition to his prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title. Recently, Chief Olanipekun was inducted along with others including Chief Afe Babalola into Ekiti Elders Hall of Fame for their contributions to the betterment of humanity.

         As he marks his birthday today, one can only pray that God continually prolongs Chief Olanipekun’s life in peace and prosperity for the benefit of humanity. Born in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State on November 18, 1951,   Chief Olanipekun attended Amonye Grammar  School, Ikere Ekiti between 1965 and 1969 where he obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC). His academic brilliance informed his appointment as the Senior Prefect. He proceeded to Ilesa Grammar School in 1970 from where he obtained the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1971.

     At Ilesha Grammar School, the young Olanipekun manifested his innate leadership qualities, thus becoming the Editor-in-Chief of the school magazine (The Spike). He was also the chairman of, Students Representative Committee in 1971. In 1972, he gained admission into the University of Lagos where he bagged the Bachelor of Law degree in 1975. As light drawing moths, Olanipekun attracted many friends and admirers with his enchanting brilliancy which led to this election as the secretary-general of, Students’ Union between 1973 and 1974.

     He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos from 1975 and 1976 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1976. He was a junior counsel in the Messrs Oniyangi & Co Ilorin between 1977 and 1979. A happy birthday, Chief.

    Saanu (08034073427) is with Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo  on sabbatical.

    ●Email: sundaysaanu@gmail.com

  • Olanipekun donates bus to NBA

    Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has donated a Hiace bus to the Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State branch of the association.

    Presenting the keys to the branch on Olanipekun’s, Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker  Funminiye Afuye, who is a member, praised the branch for remaining steadfast to the cherished ideals of the legal profession.

    He stated that the branch has grown well within its few years of creation.

    In her acceptance speech, chairman of the branch, Dayo Olorunfemi, thanked Olanipekun for honouring his promises.

    She said Olanipekun was a father figure to the branch.

    The Chairman told The Nation: “I am very happy that Chief Olanipekun delivered on his promise to the branch.

    “We will be going to the Lagos conference in the next few weeks in a grand style with our brand new bus.

    “We have had a very good relationship with Chief Olanipekun who has always been a strong pillar of support for the branch.

    “He erected the Bar Centre for us and promised to help the branch to stabilise; he paid our Bar practising fees for three years.

    “He did this voluntarily without our having to chase him around.

    “In fact, he is a true father who is interested in the growth of the branch and he has always shown this.”

    Pioneer Chairman of the branch, Bunmi Olugbade, said the presentation was the fulfillment of Olanipekun’s last promise to the branch.

    Olugbade said: “When the branch building, which was single-handedly built by Chief Olanipekun was inaugurated, he promised to nurture the branch till it grows.

    “He bought us a 25 KVA generator which we are using in the branch. He paid Bar practising fees for all members of the branch for three years and did not miss anybody out of it.

    “Recently, he renovated the Bar Centre and repainted it. And now he has given us a brand new bus so that we move around easily in the branch. We pray that God will keep blessing him.

    “This is very kind of him and we appreciate him as our patron,” he said.

  • Olanipekun to speak on Nigeria’s democracy at Oxford

    A former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), will tomorrow deliver a keynote address on ‘Electoral Law, Election Petitions and the Future of Democracy in Nigeria’ at the workshop on “Nigeria in Transition” at St Anthony’s College, Oxford University, United Kingdom.

    The African Studies Centre and the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, UK are the organisers of the workshop.

    According to them, the workshop will use the Nigerian presidential and National Assembly elections to open up questions around the elections, related political process and more widely on “transitions’ in Nigeria, in political, economic, social and cultural senses of the word”.

    Read also: Agbako’s apotheosis

    Scholars, technocrats and others from Nigeria, the UK and North America are also expected to present papers at the workshop.

     

     

  • Olanipekun alleges funding discrimination against private varsities

    FORMER Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has faulted the Federal Government on the discrimination being meted out against private tertiary institutions in the  disbursement of funds by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

    He spoke at the weekend while addressing the 10th Convocation Ceremony of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State.

    Olanipekun, who is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the university, noted that TETFUND is expected to be an interventional measure of the Federal Government to tackle inadequate facilities in tertiary institutions.

    The senior lawyer added that such discrimination against the private institutions is unconstitutional, illegal, immoral, unjust and indefensible.

    According to him, various government agencies, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) release funds to TETFUND as a channel for onward distribution of same to the various tertiary institutions in the country.

    Olanipekun said it was inconceivable and morally unjust for the Federal Government to keep on restricting disbursement of funds from TETFUND, which primarily are generated from the nation’s collective revenue, to public institutions at the expense of private ones.

    He urged the Federal Government to without any further delay, halt the discrimination between public and private universities in the disbursement of fund by TETFUND.

    “The grundnorm of Nigeria is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which, by section 42 (1) (a) prohibits discrimination against any citizen of Nigeria in any form or manner through the application of any law, executive or administrative action of government.

    “At a point in time, the erstwhile Vice-President of Nigeria, Architect Namadi Sambo, was quoted as saying that the Federal Government would redress the injustice. That promise is yet to be honoured.

    Olanipekun decried the increasing rate at which Nigerian youths are leaving the country in search of golden fleece in other countries.

    “It is disheartening, horrifying and heart-wrenching news of the maltreatment, maiming and killing of some of the emigrants that litter media space – print, electronic and social media”, he lamented.

    He regretted a situation whereby majority of Nigeria’s trained youths emigrate from the country in droves, searching for golden fleece in other climes, a good number of which are less endowed than Nigeria, is unacceptable and should be a thing to be worried about as a nation.

  • NBA election fallout: Olanipekun seeks unity

    Last week’s Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election is threatening to divide the association, with the key actors and stakeholders calling for a post-election audit. But a former NBA President Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has sued for peace, reports Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU.

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election has come and gone. The association’s electoral committee declared a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Paul Usoro winner of NBA presidential election.

    Usoro polled 4,509 votes to beat Chief Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN), who scored 4,423 votes and Prof Ernest Ojukwu (SAN), who got 3,313 votes.

    Okafor and Ojukwu, however, faulted the result, insisting that the election was rigged.

    In a letter to the outgoing NBA president Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), Okafor rejected the result and called for a post-election audit.

    He said: “In the course of the election, my team made complaints of obvious malpractices including harvesting of voters’ details using some funny email domains. These complaints were not attended to.

    “I do hereby reject the result of the elections. Whilst considering various options open to me, I call for a participatory post-election audit of both the verification process and voting.”

    Ojukwu, a former Nigerian Law School Deputy Director-General, claimed that he contested against corruption, rigging and a skewed process, but said he would not challenge the result.

    In a message to his supporters, he said: “Though a winner has emerged from this present contest, remember that we contested against corruption, massive vote buying, vote capture, rigging and a skewed process.

    “These reasons make a challenge of the result important but because of my long and selfless commitment to regenerating the Bar, and the need not create tension in our legal profession, I shall not contest it.”

    Praising his supporters for their efforts, Ojukwu urged them not to “surrender to a dirty system and the fall of our profession”.

    “Continue to do your best to help clean it up and set a new bar that would be relevant to all,” Ojukwu said.

    Election criticised

    Several lawyers criticised the election, saying it was highly flawed. So many others could not vote.

    A professor of law and former National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman Chidi Odinkalu described the election as a “messy racket” and a “disgrace”.

    He said in a statement: “This was not an election. It was not even a selection. It was a racket and a messed up one at that.

    “Now, they will ask the NBA National Executive Committee to make this messed up racket their own and ratify it at the pre-conference NEC. That will be interesting. This racket is a disgrace.

    “The process was compromised and did not even pretend about it. The outcome lacks legitimacy and the declared winner has procured a compromised non-mandate.

    “Those who hope or expect that there will be an audit should come off that kind of hallucination – you don’t ask a burglar to investigate the burglary.

    “The outgoing Bar leadership is incredibly tarnished by its role in this messy racket. Yet, we are unlikely to learn.

    “There are no plaudits to hand out, no congratulations to anyone and no one comes out of this a winner.”

    Olanipekun sues for peace

    A former NBA president Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has urged Usoro  to ensure that the Bar remains one in the face of allegations of corruption and controversies trailing his declaration as the President-elect.

    Usoro had written an open letter to Okafor and Ojukwu to join hands with him to build the Bar.

    Reacting to the letter, which was copied to all former NBA presidents, Olanipekun urged Usoro to be humble in victory like the late President Umaru Yar’Adua who admitted that the process that brought him to power was faulty and took positive steps to remedy it.

    Olanipekun said: “My dear Paul, permit me to acknowledge receipt of your endorsed mail to Ernest and Arthur, both of who contested the last NBA presidential election with you, you being the declared winner. Congratulations.

    “Truth be told, each of the three of you is well qualified, equipped and experienced to become our president; but there can only be one president at a time.

    “Having won the election, you’ve become our leader and a leader. It’s your duty to assuage feelings and ensure the emergence of a united Bar.

    “A divided house cannot achieve this; a harassed or distracted leadership cannot face the mounting and daunting challenges facing our profession and nation.

    “While I will submit that you’ve started and done well by your afore- mentioned mails, you have and need to do more, and very urgently too.”

    Olanipekun urged Usoro to put behind him the soap box rhetorics and take the bull by the horns.

    “Kickstart the process of healing and reconciliation within the NBA and unite all the diverse factions and interests. Put in place a transparent system that will assure all and sundry that the NBA presidency is for service, rather than self-aggrandizement.

    “Like the late President Yar’adua, be humble and manly enough to admit that the system that brought you to office was/ is faulty, and say it loud and clear that through you, our Association will never pass through that way or path again.

    “Please don’t mount any high horse!  Very important. For the past three elections or so of NBA Presidents, similar allegations as are now being made and repeated against you had dominated the Bar landscape and hemisphere.

    “Presently, the case challenging the election of the outgoing President by Chief JK Gadzama SAN is still in court! For God and goodness sake, put a halt to this mess!“

    Olanipekun urged Ojukwu and Okafor to get behind Usoro.

    “As for Ernest and Arthur, each of you is a gentleman of the highest order. You’ve carried out your respective campaigns with maturity, poise, style and much elegance.

    “But there cannot be three Presidents of the Bar at the same time. Since the Lord lives forever, there’s a better tomorrow for each of you, both at the Bar and the larger society.

    “Without adjudging your complaints as frivolous or unmeritorious, I plead, with all sense of responsibility, that let us forget the past; let’s forgive ourselves; let’s join hands with Paul to rediscover and re- situate the Bar; let’s now resolve that never again shall any presidential candidate of the Bar embark on the type of hazardous trips you all underwent in the past 12 months or indulge in the humongous expenses you all incurred.

    “As for me, my loyalty and fidelity are always to our noble profession, and I believe I owe a duty to plead with all our colleagues, across the length and breadth of Nigeria who have some grievances and complaints against the last election to bury their hatchets; and come together as a united body to chart a glorious way forward for the profession.

    “My respect to you Paul,  as the in- coming President; my high regards to Ernest  and Arthur as my worthy  colleagues; my love to all,” Olanipekun said.

    Usoro extends olive branch

    Usoro, in his letter to Okafor and Ojukwu, said they could work together.

    He wrote: “Soon after the NBA Elections last Monday, 20 August 2018,  I called both of you (same day in regard to Arthur and on Wednesday, 23 August 2018 in regard to Ernest) but you both must have been busy and couldn’t take my calls.

    “I also left WhatsApp messages on your phone but again, your schedules may not have permitted you to revert.

    “I had intended to use my calls to reach both of you and solicit your support for my running of the NBA, post the elections.

    “Not having reached you nor heard from you, I thought it wise not to wait any further but to articulate my thoughts vide this e-mail.

    “Let me start by first stating that I fully understand your respective feelings and belief that you and not me should have won the NBA Presidential election. I probably would have felt the same way, perhaps, not as heated, if I had lost.

    “I’m however reminded of the fact that, win or lose in an NBA election, we, the three of us, remain learned friends, brother Silks and kinsmen from Eastern Nigeria.

    “Those are strong unbreakable bonds that NBA election, win or lose, should not and must not put asunder.

    “Indeed, a win by any of us ought to have been and should be seen as a win for all of us, given those bonds that I’ve listed.

    “It is in that spirit that I’m truly and earnestly extending my hands of brotherhood to both of you and appealing that we sheath swords and join hands in reshaping the NBA into an institution that we all can take pride in.

    “In truth, beyond the bonds of friendship and brotherhood that I’ve highlighted above, there’s a lot more that binds us together as far as the NBA is concerned.

    “By virtue of our ranks, we’re all leaders of the profession and each of us is eminently qualified to lead the Bar – at least, that’s what I believe in regard to you two.

    “Indeed, our election manifestoes share some common features with the difference being only in the modalities and strategies for achieving those common objectives.

    “Our three manifestoes, for example, talked about welfare issues for lawyers, not least, the young lawyers.

    “We all talked about an inclusive Bar where there’ll be standing room for all lawyers irrespective of gender, age, ability/disability etc, and we also talked about giving voice to the voiceless and the promotion of the rule of law, amongst others.

    “These and much more were our common agenda items during the elections and I believe that the Bar will be greatly enriched if we were to join hands to achieve these and several other goals that we so beautifully articulated in our respective Manifestoes.

    “Just think of it: can you imagine what pride we bring to Eastern Nigeria and indeed the profession if we were to work together along these lines, and, God being on our side, we achieve great things for the NBA during my tenure as the President of the NBA? In two years, we’ll jointly be the toast of the Bar and indeed of Nigeria if we seize this moment.

    “I truly request you to think of my proposition even as I look forward to the opportunity of sitting with you, jointly or separately, to advance and flesh out such a course while harmonising our thoughts in that regard.

    “I thank you for taking the time to read this ‘epistle’ and look forward to an indication from you on the convenient time that I may call you, respectively, to advance discussions on these matters. Meanwhile, please, feel free to reach me by SMS or WhatsApp or e-mail.”

    Okafor: Letter positive, but audit needed

    Reacting to Usoro’s letter, Okafor said: “I thank you for your letter and the kind and positive words that you said about me and also about our brother Ernest.

    “The past days have been quite busy and probably resulted in restricting our access to each other. The NBA is very dear to all of us and understandably must transcend our individual interests.

    “I totally agree with you that we must protect, further the interest, fundamental aims and objectives as well as the development of our legal profession through the NBA.

    “More importantly, I also believe the way the leaders of the profession are elected is fundamental to the survival and dignity of the profession we admire and is the foundation of any meaningful achievement going forward.

    “I am glad to note your recognition that all three of the presidential candidates have a common bond in coming from the Eastern Region of the country.

    “I entirely agree with you that whether or not any of us is President of NBA, we have this common obligation as members of the Eastern region and members of the NBA in general, to bring about in the next two years an NBA that is credible, all inclusive, democratic, effective and effectual.

    “My position on your offer for us to work together is that an independent and participatory forensic post-election audit of international standard must be carried out before the alleged result of the election is ratified.

    “I have requested for a post-election audit to be conducted which I presume will take place before any results are ratified.

    “I expect the audit to address the serious allegations and observations of irregularities in respect of the verification and election processes. The outcome of the audit will put me in a position to ascertain the way forward.”

    Ojukwu: Letter in bad faith

    Ojukwu, in an earlier statement, said he did not receive Usoro’s call. He later issued another statement, saying Usoro’s letter was in bad faith.

    “I regret to state that your letter written jointly to me and Mr Okafor was written in bad faith. You commenced your letter with a claim that you called me and that I did not take your call. When I refuted this claim, you posted a WhatsApp log where you stated that you called and that my telephone was switched off.

    “If this was true that my telephone was switched off, on what basis did you then claim that I did not take your call? If you had made an honest mistake, the natural thing would be to apologise for that but instead in trying to defend the defenseless, you posted a WhatsApp log and intentionally included an unrelated private chat we had early in the year.

    “In character you did not also show the entire discussion of that unrelated chat,” Ojukwu said.

    Ojukwu said he had spent his adult life working for the development of the legal profession and the bar.

    “It is a passion and calling for me. NBA is not an employment or political thing for me. There is, therefore, no reason to ‘appeal’ to me ‘to sheath swords and join hands in reshaping the NBA into an institution that we all can take pride in.’

    “Paul, you owe me no duty or responsibility for what happened at that elections…You all owe that duty and responsibility to the entire Bar, the legal profession, Nigeria and God.