Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, the new Chairman of the Body of Benchers, has requested a response from the Secretary, Mr. Daniel Tela, regarding the controversial appointment of Augustine Oyarekhua Alegeh, SAN, as the Chairman of the Appointments Committee.
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In a letter dated June 3, 2024, Awomolo specifically asked Tela to provide the memo approved by the former Chairperson, Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, where she instructed the Secretary to write the letter of appointment for Alegeh.
Awomolo has requested a response from Tela by Tuesday, June 4, 2024, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue within the Body of Benchers.
The development comes after Justice Peter-Odili, the immediate past Chairperson, distanced herself from Alegeh’s purported appointment, expressing “great shock” upon receiving information about the same.
Click here to download the full letter.
In her letter to Awomolo, Justice Peter-Odili categorically denied making such an appointment, citing three reasons:
1. She had made it clear to the administration that she had no interest in reconfiguring the Appointments Committee during her tenure.
2. She could not have approved such an appointment on the day she chaired her last meeting as Chairperson, as it would not have been presented to the Body for approval.
3. She would not have restructured the Appointments Committee without consulting the Vice-Chairman, with whom she worked as a team.
The retired Supreme Court Justice described the situation as “clearly an embarrassment” to both herself and the new Chairman. She urged that the “anomaly should be rectified” and her person removed from being associated with the appointment of Alegeh as the Chairman of the Appointments Committee.
“I want to therefore categorically state that I did not make that appointment,” Justice Peter-Odili asserted.
Recall that according to the originating summons supported by a 50-paragraph affidavit, Alegeh had contended that his appointment as Chairman of the Appointment Committee in March 2024 was for a 3-year tenure based on the Body of Benchers Regulations. He had claimed that Awomolo’s attempt to unilaterally remove him from the position in April 2024 was unlawful, malicious, and in breach of the Regulations.
Alegeh had sought several declaratory reliefs as well as perpetual injunctions restraining Awomolo from interfering with his position as Appointment Committee Chairman and from occupying the office of Body of Benchers Chairman. He had argued that Awomolo was unfit for the role due to alleged breaches of the Regulations and allegations of criminal misconduct leveled against him by the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN).
The court, however, had declined to grant the second prayer seeking to restrain Awomolo from further acting as Body of Benchers Chairman, stating that it would be considered on notice at the interlocutory stage. The matter was further adjourned to July 8, 2024, for the motion on notice.
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