“Disparaging Comments About Akpata Does Not Represent Position of Eminent Yoruba Bar Leaders” — Y. Kadiri SAN Responds To Akintola SAN

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prince Yusuf Asamah Kadiri SAN, has denounced comments made by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Niyi Akintola about a purported collective decision of yoruba lawyers to isolate themselves from the administration of immediate past President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata.

TheNigeriaLawyer had earlier reported Niyi Akintola as saying “We at the Egbe Amofin took a unified stance not to dignify that boy (Akpata) with our presence. Unfortunately, some of our people who took that decision alongside of us betrayed that trust. That decision was reached here in Ibadan. Chief Olanipekun was the Leader of Egbe Amofin, and I was his Vice. I and Chief Olanipekun have religiously abided by that decision, however, some of our boys and girls decided to go their ways because they wanted to be in government. They wanted positions”.

In a statement on Tuesday, Yusuf Kadiri, who is the Yerima of Auchi, denounced the comments saying “they are not a true representation and reflection of our well-meaning eminent Bar Leaders of Yoruba extraction. ”

According to the statement, Akpata enjoyed the support and encouragement of an uncountable number of leading lights in the legal profession who are illustrious sons and daughters of Yoruba.

He went further to list some of the elders who supported and donated their goodwill to Akpata’s administration to include;

“Chief Afe Babalola SAN (who is about 94 years old), the 90 years old Chief Mrs Folake Solanke SAN (the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria), the venerable Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu SAN, CON (former Federal Commissioner/Minister for Works, aged about 89 years old and 63 years at the Bar – called to the Greys Inn, England in 1959 and Nigerian Bar in 1960), the revered Chief Mrs Hairat Ade Balogun (Life Bencher, former Attorney General of Lagos State, and first female General Secretary of NBA), Prof Yemi Osibanjo SAN (Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria), Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN (Honourable Minister of Works & Housing, and former Governor of Lagos State), Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN (sitting Governor of Ondo State and past President of NBA), Chief Akin Olujinmi SAN, Mrs Funke Adekoya SAN (former 1st Vice President of NBA), Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, Mallam Yusuf Ali SAN, Tunde Busari SAN, Supo Sasore SAN (former Attorney General of Lagos State), Dr. Tunde Ajibade SAN, Prof Koyinsola Ajayi SAN, Obafemi Adewale SAN (past General Secretary of NBA), Prof Bankole Sodipo SAN, Ayodele Akintunde SAN, Isiaka Abiola Olagunju SAN (past General Secretary of NBA, and the current President of Egbe Amofin – the Yoruba Lawyers Association), Wale Akoni SAN, Dr. Wale Babalakin SAN, Yemi Candide-Johnson SAN, Femi Falana SAN, Dapo Akinosun SAN, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu SAN, Chief Gbola Akinola SAN, Mrs Oyinkasola Badejo-Okunsanya, Mrs Folashade Alli, all the Attorneys General of all the South-West States, and others too numerous to mention, including several thousands of prominent senior and young lawyers.”

He continued, “Many of these eminent personalities (and many more) always physically attended most of the events and meetings of the NBA under the leadership of Olumide Akpata, coupled with taking on numerous responsibilities, such as Committee Chairmanship and Membership, and contributing meaningfully to the success of the administration. Also, many of these personalities (and much more) were physically present in all the NBA events of the past week, including the Annual General Conference (AGC), the Pre-AGC NBA National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting, the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and the Handing Over Ceremony, etc etc.

In fact, for the benefit of doubt, even Deacon Dele Adesina SAN attended the Conference and the handing over ceremony from the Olumide Akpata leadership to the Y. C. Maikyau SAN leadership, last Friday, 26th August 2022.”

Kadiri SAN further disowned Akintola’s statement and described him as a lone voice with inconsequential value.

“On this note, it is apparent that the learned Silk, Chief Niyi Akintola SAN (and maybe his very infinitesimal cronies), is on his own as a lone voice. His rantings are inconsequential and do not represent the views of majority of Yoruba lawyers. His rantings do not affect the glory or diminish the immeasurable achievements of or change any positive accomplishments of the Olumide Akpata Presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association, in any manner whatsoever or howsoever.”

He went on to eulogise the Akpata’s contribution while is office as remarkable and outstanding.

“The fact cannot be overemphasized that the OLUMIDE AKPATA Administration was a huge success. He surely overdelivered on his promise to “MAKE THE BAR WORK FOR ALL”. To the glory of Almighty God, the Bar now works for all the segments and strata of the legal profession, and will surely continue to work for all of us, rather than the old order of the past where only very few cabals cornered everything of the Bar to themselves and their families and forebears and kinsmen/kinswomen and tribesmen/tribeswomen only, etc etc.

Olumide Akpata led the Bar with an uncommon courage and determination, and has restored dignity, prestige, respect and honour to the NBA and the Nigerian Legal profession, generally, as a formidable voice that must be heard and listened to and carried along in the scheme of things in the affairs of Nigeria, Africa, and the entire world. Olumide Akpata has surely left indelible footprints in annals of history, and posterity will surely score him as an A+++++++.”

He thereon urged lawyers to eschew divisive messages like that of Akintola SAN and called for unity within the Association.

“I, therefore, urge us all to eschew any iota of divisive tribal or sectional sentiments or bigotry, and remain resolute and focused on joining hands to build bridges across the country/globe to make our Bar to continue to be a united and stronger Bar.”