>
Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has removed the name of Adekunbi Ogunde from the list of legal practitioners in Nigeria.
A five-man panel of the committee, led by Justice Ishaq Bello (Chairman), found Ogunde guilty of professional misconduct in a case brought against her by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
NBA spokesperson, Akorede Lawal, disclosed this in a short statement, adding that the decision of the LPDC was reached on Thursday.
Lawal said the sanction “is subject to the right of appeal of the counsel to the supreme court.”
Ogunde, a former partner in the law firm of Wole Olanipekun, immediate past chairman of Body of Benchers, had in June 2022, admitted sending an email to SAIPEM Contracting Nigeria Ltd, soliciting a brief.
Despite being aware that the law firm of Henry Ajumogobia, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is handling the matter, Ogunde asked SAIPEM to consider hiring Olanipekun & Co, adding that the founder has more “influence” with judges across all courts.
“Chief Olanipekun, SAN, OFR is currently the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, which is the highest ruling body in the Nigerian legal profession made up of Supreme Court judges, Presiding Justices of the Court of Appeal and Chief Judges of all State High Courts, including the Rivers State High Court. In other words, Chief Olanipekun, SAN, OFR is the Head of the entire legal profession in Nigeria,” she wrote.
She, thereafter, listed a few famous cases, including the MTN tax dispute, Shell Petroleum, and the Equinox (former Statoil) dispute, where her principal had demonstrated such capacity in the past.
“We are aware that another law firm is currently in the matter but you will agree that highly sensitive and political matters require more influence,” Ogunde added.
Reacting, the NBA, under Olumide Akpata as President, had said Ogunde’s letter put the legal profession into public ridicule. It subsequently filed a petition against her before the LPDC.
The NBA had in a petition dated July 19, 2022 asked the LPDC to prosecute Ogunde over “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.
The NBA also demanded that Olanipekun should recuse himself from his position on the ground that he could influence the processes of the LPDC since the committee is under the supervision of the Body of Benchers’ chairman.
Olanipekun has since apologised to Ajumogobia, stating that he never approved the email sent by Ogunde.
Ogunde also apologised to Ajumogobia for the embarrassment, blaming her action on exuberance.
In August 2022, Ogunde said the issue has affected her psychologically.
Ogunde said after “consulting with family and the firm, and after a deep and thorough examination of all the facets of this hydra-headed problem”, she has decided to “take a leave of absence from legal practice and get involved in the community and social work pro bono, with a few selected NGOs.”