Wole Olanipekun warns against use of disciplinary committee to settle personal scores

Chairman, Body of Benchers (BOB) Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has called on lawyers not to see the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) as a tool for settling personal scores.

Olanipekun spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the call-to-bar ceremony for 1,491 new lawyers.

According to Olanipekun, the LPDC, as an independent agency of the BOB, serves solely as an avenue through which it exercises the power to discipline any erring legal practitioner.

“Over the years, the LPDC, has continued to operate as an independent arbiter, enjoying absolute independence in the course of carrying out its assignment.

“The Body of Benchers does not and will not interfere with any of the proceedings or outcome of such proceedings before the LPDC.

“It is important to point out that the LPDC is not an avenue for dealing with perceived enemies or ventilation of grievances against fellow lawyers on personal issues.

“The decision of the LPDC is known as direction, and any appeal against the direction goes directly to the Supreme Court,” he said.

Olanipekun’s statement followed a petition the Nigerian Bar Association wrote to the LPDC to investigate his law firm for alleged unethical practices.

The senior lawyer, who is a former president of the NBA, stressed the need for lawyers to always uphold time-tested morals and ethical standards of the legal profession.