The Immediate past Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Olanipekun, SAN, has opened up on the series of criticisms and attacks he suffered while at the helms of the Body for the past one year.
Olanipekun, who made references to what he termed as “offensive publications” during his valedictory address as BoB Chairman, said leaders of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) were the orchestrators of the personal attacks.
According to him, he considered the publications as unjust travails, which a leader of his stature must face and noted that he accepted it with equanimity.
He said, “You are not unaware of the several offensive publications (to put it mildly) that certain identified leaders of the NBA have orchestrated against me and my person in the past one year, all of which have been elaborately circulated in the prints, electronics and social media, (including paid advertorials in leading national dailies), and the deliberations on some of the publications at our last meeting of 24th January, 2023.
“I take the attacks with equanimity. It is part of the price I have to pay for who I am, through the grace of God. It is also expected that any leader of my status will go through unjust travails at one point or the other, but the important thing is for a leader not to quake, cave in or succumb to any unwholesome bait.”
He also stated that during the period, he was always conscious of the fact that he occupied a very distinguished and eminent position in succession to worthy, noble, revered, and venerated predecessors-in-office.
“Hence, my deliberate decision not to join issues, but let me boast in the Lord that I have my integrity before me, and it remains intact. Like the Psalmist of old, I can always say that: “But as for me, I will
walk in mine integrity:”
He also repeated his charge to young lawyers at the last year’s Call-to-Bar Ceremony to eschew bitterness, envy, and campaigns of calumny against their colleagues.
He said, “Nevertheless, it is pertinent I repeat part of my charge during the Call to Bar Ceremonies on 6th and 7th December, 2022, where I admonished the young lawyers, as well as all of us thus: “Do not engage in strife, blackmail, mudslinging, campaign of calumny, treachery or any attempt to run or pull anyone down.
“Flee from envy like a plague, for envy breeds hatred and unjustified contempt for others. Appreciate your colleagues and peers, as well as senior members of the profession who have received God’s benevolence, and pray that your own time will come.”
Recall that successive leaderships of the NBA led by Olumide Akpata and Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN, were in a long-drawn battle with the erstwhile BoB Chairman over a range of issues especially the controversy surrounding an alleged act of client solicitation by a former partner in the latter’s law firm. (The Nigeria Lawyer)
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