The threat letter that Chairman of Body of Benchers (BOB), Chief Wole Olanipekun, should step aside could not hold water to the body as President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata, failed to appear during the last meeting of BOB, held in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as the meeting was held hitch free.
At the well attended meetings were the members of the Body from both the Bench and the Bar, who honoured the invitation as sent out by the Chairman of the body, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN.
Though, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Olumide Akpata was conspicuously absent from the meeting, as the reason for his absence is not known as at the time of filling this report.
Mr. Akpata who is by virtue of his office a member of the Body of Benchers, was absent both physically and through the virtual platform.,
Consequently, feelers are of the opinion that his absence may not be unconnected to the recent development whereby the NBA president requested for the BOB chairman to step down from leasing the august body owing to the probe of one the partners from his chambers, Wole Olanipekun & Co. accused of breaching the Rule of Professional Conduct, RPC by allegedly luring clients.
But, a source who preferred anonymous said the meeting which was well attended by members , including the acting Chief Justice if Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola and other Benchers discussed so many issues affecting the legal profession and the country as a whole.
The meeting was held at the Body of Benchers Complex.
Among those who were present at the meeting were the Ex CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, retired Justice Mary Odili, Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, former NBA president, Paul Usoro, SAN, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, O. C.J Okocha, SAN, J. B. Daudu, SAN amongst several others.
The meeting is said to be part of preparations for the Call to Bar ceremonies scheduled to hold in Abuja from Wednesday and vital issues bordering on the security of the nation particularly as it affects the Call to Bar Ceremonies were discussed.
Mr. Akpata’s purported controversial letter to the chairman BoB, however, did not form parts of their discussion for the meeting.
