No sooner has the dust settled on the just-concluded 62nd Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association than a new controversy arose over remarks by a learned silk, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, to the effect that there was a ‘pact’ among members of an umbrella group of legal practitioners of Southwest extraction, known as Egbe Amofin, not to partner with the administration of the immediate past President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata, nor to participate in any NBA events under his watch.
Akintola, who reportedly made the remarks in Ibadan, was quoted by a source close to NEWSWIRE Law and Events as saying, “We took that decision here in Ibadan. Chief Olanipekun happens to be the leader of Egbe Omofin in Nigeria. I happen to be his deputy. Chief Olanipekun and I have religiously kept to that position.”
Akintola reportedly described those members of the umbrella body who breached the ‘pact’ as ‘betrayers’.
Repeatedly referring to the former NBA President as ‘that boy,’ the Senior Advocate described Akpata as a transactional lawyer ” who has never practised law … doesn’t even know psychology or the geography of the Court …”
“Did you see any Supreme Court judge (sic) at the (NBA) Conference?” Akintola reportedly asked, accusing Akpata of calling a former Chief Justice of Nigeria an ‘ostrich.’
Expectedly, Chief Akintola, SAN’s outburst has generated no small amount of dust in various quarters at the Bar, with stakeholders offering various opinions in respect to his disclosures.
At the time of this report, there has been no response or comment from the office or person of the immediate past NBA President.
