[EXCLUSIVE]: Alleged Misconduct: Letter Shows LPDC Absolves Partners Of Wole Olanipekun & Co. From Proceedings Against Adekunbi Ogunde

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has found no merit in investigating the partners of the law firm of Wole Olanipekun & Co. for alleged involvement in the client solicitation scandal which rocked the legal profession few months ago.

According to a letter exclusively obtained by TheNigeriaLawyer and signed by the Secretary of the LPDC, Mr. Daniel Tela Esq., the initial member review concluded that since there is no evidence to show that Adekunbi Ogunde acted with the consent of the Partners of the law firm, the Applicant’s prayer for an investigation of the law firm cannot be grounded in law.

The letter titled “RE: THE INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION VS ADEKUNBI OGUNDE, ESQ: APPLICATION FOR EXTRACTS OF FINDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE IN RELATION TO PARTNERS IN OUR LAW OFFICE”, was written by the Secretary of the LPDC in response to an enquiry by Adelani Ajibade Esq., who himself is a lawyer in same law firm.

According to an extract from the findings of the Committee which was reproduced on the letter, “With response to the Applicant’s prayer to consider whether the firm of Wole Olanipekun & Co are not liable to be disciplined, I hold the humble view that since there is no evidence to show that the Respondent indeed acted with the knowledge and consent of the Principal Partners, especially with the Partner’s constant denial of the content of Exhibit 1 to the effect that the Respondent acted without the authority and consent of the Principal Partners or the firm, I cannot situate the angle of the Applicant’s prayer to both the Act and the Rules.

Accordingly, I no see merit in recommending further investigation against the partners of Wole Olanipekun &Co. I so hold”.

Recall that the Nigerian Bar Association through the 1st Vice President had dragged Adekunbi Ogunde, a Former Partner at the law firm of Body of Benchers Chairman, Wole Olanipekun SAN before the LPDC for alleged client solicitation in breach of the rules of professional conduct for legal practitioners.

As part of the issues put before the Committee for determination, the NBA asked the LPDC to determine if the law firm of Wole Olanipekun is liable for the alleged misconduct Miss Adekunbi Ogunde.