*Says LPDC not avenue for dealing with perceived enemies
The Chairman of the Body of Benchers (BoB), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has disclosed that the body does not interfere with the proceedings of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
Olanipekun spoke in Abuja on Wednesday during the Call-to-Bar ceremony of newly-inducted lawyers.
The legal luminary also said that the BoB does not influence the outcome of matters brought before the LPDC.
He said, “The Body of Benchers does not and will not interfere with any of the proceedings or outcome of such proceedings before the LPDC.
“It is important to point out that the LPDC is not an avenue for dealing with perceived enemies or ventilation of grievances against fellow lawyers on personal issues.
“The decision of the LPDC is known as direction and any appeal against the direction goes directly to the Supreme Court.
Addressing the new lawyers, Olanipekun warned them against “forum shopping”, saying that the idea of litigants and legal practitioners looking for “friendly venues and judices” to file frivolous and questionable cases is a professional misconduct and must be discontinued.
Olanipekun said, “This ugly practice is permeating the entire Nigerian legal landscape, leading to the churning out, on a regular basis, of conflicting orders and decisions of courts of coordinate jurisdictions.
“As a result of this as well, the legal profession is being brought to disrepute and opprobrium, leading to tirades, venoms and uncomplimentary remarks and sentences being passed on the legal profession and some of our judges.
“Be informed that the Body of Benchers, by virtue of the powers conferred on it by section 10 (1)(c) of the Legal Practitioners Act, has now set up a regulations committee, empowered to make regulations for the decent practice of law in Nigeria.
“The committee has submitted draft regulations to the Body of Benchers and the regulations, when approved, will become binding on all legal practitioners, who will be restricted to initiating and filing causes and matters where the said causes of action arise or as provided by the rules of the adjudicating courts.
“Just as it is provided under the Matrimonial Causes Rules, lawyers will be required to sign and file certain forms and documents, indicating compliance with the regulations before filing any originating process at trial courts. Any infraction or breach of the regulations would amount to professional misconduct.
Olanipekun’s comment was sequel to the call by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olumide Akpata, seeking Olanipekun’s resignation on the grounds of a petition filed against a lawyer in his chambers before the LPDC.
The NBA had, in a petition sent on July 20, asked the LPDC to prosecute Adekunbi Ogunde, a partner in the law firm of Wole Olanipekun, over what it called “professional misconduct”.
In the petition, NBA also asked the committee to consider whether the partners of the firm of Wole Olanipekun & Co. are not liable to be disciplined alongside Ogunde.
Ogunde was said to have in June, admitted to sending an email to SAIPEM Contracting Nigeria Ltd, seeking for a legal brief.
It was further alleged that in spite being aware that the law firm of Henry Ajumogobia (SAN) is handling the matter, Ogunde reportedly asked SAIPEM to consider hiring Olanipekun & Co, on the alleged grounds that the founder has more “influence” with judges across all courts.
In a letter dated July 22 and addressed to Olanipekun, Olumide Akpata claimed that Olanipekun could influence the processes of the LPDC, since the committee is under his supervision as the Chairman of the Body of Benchers.
