A lawyer involved in the controversial letter soliciting for the brief from an oil company to be transferred to the law firm of Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has announced exit from legal practice.
Adekunbi Ogunde said her decision followed the row generated by her letter purportedly soliciting for a brief from SAIPEM, when the law firm belonging to Henry Ajumogobia (SAN) was already handling the matter.
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Following the controversy, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had petitioned the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to punish Ogunde for professional misconduct while Olanipekun, who is the chairman of the Body of Benchers, has faced pressure to resign from the position.
In a statement yesterday, Ogunde stated that she took the decision to quit legal practice temporarily after due consultations with her family, her law firm and friends.
She said the issue has affected her psychologically and also her law firm, Wole Olanipekun & Co, describing Olanipekun as “dignified and innocent.”
“I cannot deny the fact that I am at the centre of every main or collateral issue that has arisen out of the said email,” she said.
Ogunde added, “It may appear as if neither Wole Olanipekun & Co. nor I have taken any concrete step to ameliorate the effect of the email by way of discipline, education, reform and rehabilitation concerning me.
“I wish to state that the firm took such steps but did not believe that its actions should be for the attention of the media.”
