Court abridges hearing time in suit seeking Olanipekun’s removal as Body of Benchers Chair

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) granted abridgment of time from 42 days to 14 within which to begin hearing in a suit seeking to remove Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN as the Chairman of the Body of Benchers over alleged professional misconduct.

The vacation judge of the Court, Justice Suleiman Bolaji Belgore abridged the time while ruling in an ex-parte motion in Abuja.

The suit is instituted against the Chairman, Body of Benchers, Wole Olanipekun, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and five others.

It bothers on alleged professional misconduct by Olanipekun where an email was allegedly sent by a lawyer in his law firm, Adekunle Ogunde requesting that a Nigerian firm having a matter with Rivers State Government should withdraw service from a counsel already handling the matter and be given to him on the ground that he can influence judges to give favourable judgment.

The plaintiff, Barrister Chidinma Udebuani, had sought the court order to abridge the time of hearing of the originating summons from 42 days to 14 days.

Arguing the ex-parte motion, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Marcel Dim Udebuani informed the court that the action of the Chairman of the Body of Benchers is an affront to Nigeria’s judiciary in its entirety.

He said that the alleged professional misconduct needs the court to interpret the position of the law concerning the chairman, Body of Benchers.

The suit is also seeking a court order to remove Olanipekun as the Chairman, Body of Benchers.

Ruling on the ex-parte motion, Justice Belgore while granting the prayers of the plaintiff, abridged the time within which Olanipekun is required to enter appearance from 42 days to 14 days.

Justice Belgore subsequently fixed September 5, 2022, for a report of service of originating summons on respondents in the matter and for mentioning the matter for hearing.