Ogunde quits JRP over calls for Olanipekun’s recusal

A senior lawyer Wemimo Ogunde has resigned his membership of Justice Reform Project (JRP) over the group’s call for Wole Olanipekun to step down as chairman of the Body of Benchers (BoB).

Ogunde’s daughter Adekunbi, who is a partner at Olanipekun’s law firm, tried to snatch the client of another lawyer Odein Ajumogobia.

Many condemned her action. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led the call for Olanipekun to recuse himself as BoB chairman to allow the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LDPC) probe the incident.

Reacting to the fallout, Ogunde said that as a founding member of JRP he was not consulted before the group’s decision to issue the statement.

The former attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Ogun said in his statement: “Today, July 29, 2022, my attention was drawn to a publication by BarristerNG, an online law newspaper that 20 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (including me) who are members of the JRP have called for the resignation of Olanipekun (SAN) on account of the email written by my daughter.