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Tag: Wole Olanipekun

  • Court did not stop UniAbuja VC

    A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and counsel to the University of Abuja, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said yesterday that there is no order from the National Industrial Court restraining the new Vice Chancellor, Prof Mike Adikwu, from performing his functions.

    He said: “Nothing can be farther from the truth, because at no time did the National industrial Court, presided over by Justice B.A. Adejumo, or any judge make any order restraining the vice chancellor.

    “Put in more direct terms, neither is there any trouble in the University of Abuja nor any order restraining the vice chancellor, who was appointed by the Council on June 30, from performing the functions of his office.

    “Furthermore, contrary to some publications, there was no order of the National Industrial Court made on or dated Thursday, July 10 or any Thursday whatsoever.

    former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and counsel to the University of Abuja, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said yesterday that there is no order from the National Industrial Court restraining the new Vice Chancellor, Prof Mike Adikwu, from performing his functions.

    He said: “Nothing can be farther from the truth, because at no time did the National industrial Court, presided over by Justice B.A. Adejumo, or any judge make any order restraining the vice chancellor.

    “Put in more direct terms, neither is there any trouble in the University of Abuja nor any order restraining the vice chancellor, who was appointed by the Council on June 30, from performing the functions of his office.

    “Furthermore, contrary to some publications, there was no order of the National Industrial Court made on or dated Thursday, July 10 or any Thursday whatsoever.

     

  • Invest in legal profession, Olanipekun urges lawyers

    Invest in legal profession, Olanipekun urges lawyers

    The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has urged lawyers in the country to invest in the legal profession to boost its image.

    The frontline lawyer, who noted that the profession is an enviable one amongst other professions, however, maintained that every lawyer must learn how to prepare good briefs at all times.

    Olanipekun spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital at the commissioning of Amity Chambers built by the former Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Akinlaja (SAN).

    The event was witnessed by the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi; his Ekiti state counterpart, Justice Ayodeji Daramola; President, Customary Court of Appeal, Akure, Justice Taiwo Aguda and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), to mention but a few.

    Olanipekun, who was the chairman of the occasion, disclosed that Akinlaja is the fifth Senior Advocate coming from his (Olanipekun) Chambers, adding that it is a landmark feat for any lawyer to attain the status of SAN.

    He praised Akinlaja for putting up the new edifice with good libraries and other basic facilities, stressing that the Chambers would give him an aura of confidence and credibility in the estimation of clients.

     

    The former NBA boss said, “I feel fulfilled today and very excited that a lawyer from my own blood is opening this beautiful chamber. I want other colleagues to emulate what this young man has done.

     

    “His vision on this new edifice is a good fulfillment which should go round members of the noble legal profession.”

    In their remarks at the occasion, Justices Kumuyi and Daramola, as well as Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, who represented the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko at the event, hailed Akinlaja for his accomplishment, with all of them describing him as a legal colossus.

     

  • ’Don’t manipulate VC’s emergence’

    ’Don’t manipulate VC’s emergence’

    •UI  VC launches NGO for women

    Former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI) Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has warned the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adewole and the Governing Council to desist from influencing the emergence of another VC in 2015.

    According to him, a good governing council and its management should not impose a vice-chancellor on the university .

    The legal luminary spoke at Adewole’s 60th birthday celebration, held at the International Conference Centre, UI, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    “Neither you (Prof Adewole) nor the governing council should sabotage the exercise of choosing your successor.

    “University of Ibadan is a great institution that needs to follow due process in selecting its leaders, because we set the pace and others follow,” he said

    Olanipekun recalled that when he was the pro-chancellor, there was controversy before Adewole’s emergence but he insisted that the best candidate emerged.

    “I told them I was ready to resign if the Federal Government interferes in the selection and go against my judgment.

    “I believe in due process and any attempt to play politics with the selection will jeopardise the progress of the institution and lead to the emergence of a dull VC.”

    In his congratulatory speech, Olanipekun described the VC as a man of integrity and high standard.

    “His record over the years speaks for him as a gentleman of gentlemen and a scholar of high esteem.

    ” The battle field has ended for you and please at 60 don’t hold any grudge against anybody because you are still going higher  in life.

    “You need to move closer to God and serve him in truth and spirit,” he said.

    The VC launched a Non Government Organisation, Isaac Folorunso Adewole Foundation (IFAF).

    IFAF intends to promote women’s health focusing on cervical cancer prevention and its management at the facility, community and national level.

    Adewole said IFAF will offer high quality, humane and selfless services in areas of advocacy, development of accessible cervical cancer prevention programmes, capacity building for young and committed medical personnel.

     

  • Kenny Martins’ daughter set for altar

    Kenny Martins’ daughter set for altar

    On February 27 and March 1, the high society in Lagos will give two of its own, Kenny Martins and Wole Olanipekun, the moral support they require to make the two days some of the most memorable in their lives. On that day, the high and the mighty in the economic and political sectors will gather in Lagos in honour of Tolu, one of the daughters of top politician and former Chairman of Police Equipment Foundation (PEF), Chief Kenny Martins, and her heartthrob, Bose, son of legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun.

    The event will also parade Nigeria’s top jurists and Senior Advocate of Nigeria colleagues of the groom’s father, Chief Olanipekun. The ceremony will start with engagement on February 27 at Grandeur, Billings Way, Oregun, while the church service will come up at the Redemption Church, Gbagada Expressway on March 1. The church service will be followed by a reception at the famous Harbour point, Victoria, Island, Lagos.

    The imminent wedding has been the talk of the town since late last year when a piece on the events filtered into the media.

  • Akingbola: Court discharges N212.2b judgment debt registration

    A Lagos High Court, Igbosere, yesterday set aside the registration of the N212.2 billion judgment delivered against former Intercontinental Bank’s Managing Director, Erastus Akingbola, by a London court.

    Ruling in an application filed by Akingbola challenging the judgment enforcement order granted by Justice Adedayo Oyebanji in favour of Access Bank Plc, Justice Candide Johnson held that a Federal High Court, and not a State High Court, had jurisdiction to adjudicate on matters under Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

    Akingbola, in an application dated September 27, 2013, through his counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), urged the court to discharge the judgment of a Lagos High Court, which allowed the enforcement of a foreign judgment against him.

    Justice Burton of a London Court ordered Akingbola to pay Access Bank N212.2 billion (£654 million) for his alleged fraudulent practices when he was in charge of the defunct Intercontinental Bank.

    To enforce the judgment in Nigeria, Access Bank, in an ex-parte application, urged Justice Oyebanji to grant registration of the judgment and the accompanying order of the foreign court, dated September 13, 2012.

    Although Justice Oyebanji granted the bank’s prayer, Akingbola appealed the decision before Justice Candide-Johnson.

    He argued that the State High Court lacked jurisdiction to preside over the matter.

    But Justice Candide-Johnson held that the suit instituted in the London court by Access Bank was under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

    He averred that while it would not sit as an appeal on the foreign judgment, the court should not fail to examine the foreign judgment, especially when the jurisdiction of the court is challenged and in the overall interest of all the parties.

    Justice Candide-Johnson said: “I hold that the Lagos High Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain, hear or determine any aspect of the foreign judgment as the content of the said judgment is under the purview of the Federal High Court.”

    The court also agreed with Olanipekun’s submission that when there is conflict between statutory provisions and the existing law, the Constitution takes precedence.

    At the last adjournment, Olanipekun argued that Access Bank failed to comply with condition precedent before the registration could be completed.

    The lawyer said the judgement of the foreign court, which was registered, was not certified, in compliance with the rules of the London court and was, therefore, invalid.

    He averred that Section 251 of the Constitution vests jurisdiction on the Federal High Court and not a State High Court.

    Olanipekun noted that the London suit was at the commercial and not criminal division which, to him, was an equivalent of Federal High Court in Nigeria.

    Opposing Olanipekun’s submissions, counsel to Access Bank, Olaniwun Ajayi (SAN), submitted that the stipulation that only the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to register foreign judgments should be discountenanced because the State High Court has unlimited powers to look into it.

    He argued that on registration and enforcement of foreign judgments, Cap 175 of 1958 and Section 272 of the Constitution empowers the State High Court to adjudicate on the matter.

    Ajayi said it would be against public interest if the court refused to enforce a “money judgement”, adding that Akingbola’s appeal against the judgment in London was refused.

     

     

  • Ikuforiji’s trial adjourned

    Ikuforiji’s trial adjourned

    Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday adjourned the trial of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

    This was to enable his new lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), study the case file.

    Olanipekun, a former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) president, took many by surprise when he announced his appearance as Ikuforiji’s lawyer.

    The speaker was previously represented by Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), who was absent yesterday.

    The matter was slated for continuation of trial, but Olanipekun prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him study the case file as he had just been briefed.

    He said: “I have just been briefed, and a mountain of documents was passed to me this morning. A criminal matter is a serious business and should be handled with every sense of responsibility.

    “I have no alternative than to soberly appeal to your Lordship to grant me an adjournment so that I’ll study the file to see how to assist the course of justice as a newly brought-in counsel. This is my humble prayer.”

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) did not object to Olanipekun’s request.

    Mr Tunde Akinrimisi, who represented Ikuforji’s Personal Assistant Oyebode Atoyebi, charged with Ikuforiji, also did not object to the application.

    Justice Buba, who marked his 10th anniversary as a judge of the court yesterday, vacated previous dates slated for trial and adjourned till March 17 and 18 for continuation of hearing.

    EFCC had re-arraigned Ikuforiji and Atoyebi on an amended charge of money laundering, to which they pleaded not guilty.

  • Money laundering: Appearance of new counsel stalls Ikuforiji’s trial

    The appearance of Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) as the new counsel to Adeyemi Ikuforiji, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, on Tuesday stalled his trial.

    Ikuforiji is standing trial along with his personal assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, at a Federal High Court, Lagos, on an amended 54 count charge bordering on money laundering.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court could not proceed with the case as Olanipekun announced his appearance as the new defence counsel.

    He informed the court that he was taking over from Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN).

    Olanipekun said he could not go on with the case because he needed more time to get acquainted with the case files.

    “My lord, when a new counsel comes into a case it is natural for him to study the files and know the parties.

    “Criminal trial is a serious business and I must say that I am faced with a `mountain of documents’ to peruse, some of which were just served on us yesterday.

    “In this circumstance, I have no alternative but to seek an adjournment to enable me to study the files.”

    The prosecutor, Mr. Godwin Obla (SAN), however, did not object to Olanipekun’s request for an adjournment.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba, in a short ruling, adjourned the case to March 17 and 18 for further hearing.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had re-arraigned the defendants on June 24, 2013 on amended charges.

    Both Ikuforiji and Atoyebi had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail in the sum of N1 billion with two sureties each in the sum of N500 million.

     

     

  • Subsidy: Tukur’s son, two others challenge court’s jurisdiction

    Subsidy: Tukur’s son, two others challenge court’s jurisdiction

    Two oil marketers, Mahmud Tukur and Alex Ochonogor, alongside their company, Eterna Plc on Monday challenged the jurisdiction of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, to hear the N1.8 billion fuel subsidy fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Mahmud is the son of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The marketers filed their application before the court presided over by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.

    The application dated May 3,2013 was filed by their counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

    The defendants were charged to court alongside Abdullahi Alao, son of prominent Ibadan based businessman, Alhaji Abdullazeez Arisekola-Alao.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, counsel to the defendants, Chief Olanipekun informed the court that the application had been served on the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN)

    Olanipekun said the application was seeking for an order quashing or striking out the charge for want of jurisdiction.

    He said, “The criminal charge was not instituted in accordance with procedural due process.”

    “This charge is a matter relating to the revenue of the Federation on which only the Federal High Court has jurisdiction.

    “The substratum of the charge is within the admirality jurisdiction of the Federal High Court”, he said.

    Olanipekun told the court that his clients filed the application late because they were still discussing with the Federal Government on the charge.

    “As at now, we are still discussing. I say this from the Bar even if my learned friend, Jacobs, claims not to be aware,” he added.

    Jacobs however, told the court that he was not aware of the said discussion between his client (Federal Government) and the defendants.

    He urged the court to allow the parties take the applications orally but the judge declined his request.

    Onigbanjo therefore adjourned the matter till May 28 for argument of the applications.