By Dele Moses, Ilorin
Former National President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Wole Olanipekun, has called for a look into how better the bench and the bar in the country could work as members of the same profession and for the interest of Justice in the nation.
Olanipekun alleged that to the detriment of Justice, there seems to exist in the country, a polarisation between members of the bench and members of the bar which he said did not exist in other jurisdiction.
He spoke in Ilorin on Thursday at presentation of a book launched in his honuor by the Ilorin branch of the NBA.
The book is entitled “Contemporary Issues in Nigerian Law, Security and Good Governance: Essays In Honour of Chief Woke Olanipekun SAN, OFR”
The legal luminary advocated a re-arrangement of the nation’s Judiciary to make it conform to the existing structures in other democratic nations, where the Bench and the Bar would not be seen as competitors but units rendering complementary services.
He said there is only one legal profession in Nigeria and urged that the Bench and the Bar should complement each other in their roles to promote the course of Justice.
He states: “There is only one legal profession any where in the world. It is only in Nigeria that it appears there is a disparity between the Bar and the Bench. We must re arrange our profession to put it on the best pedestal.”
The senior lawyer who raised some provocative legal issues while reacting to the honour bestowed on him said no judicial system worth its salt should embark on any journey of provocation against the lawyers while discharging his legal duties.
Olanipekun who was recently berated by the Supreme Court for asking the court on behalf of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to review his final judgement on the 2019 governorship election of Bayelsa state said he was not such a lawyer that would ever mislead the court.
“The day I will be intimidated not to say the law the way it should, that day I will drop my wig and gown. Besides, the day I will ever mislead the court, I will say God take me home. The Judiciary is an anointed of God, therefore, do no harm to it.
“As an elder, there are things you don’t say publicly because the heart of a foolish man is in his mouth but the heart of a wise man is his mind,” He stated
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria of 29 years standing who attributed his breakthrough in the legal profession to God and his wife, said he would continue to accord his seniors in the profession, utmost respect as “tributaries should not forget their source.”
Dignateries at the occasion including the Deputy Governor of Kwara state, Kayode Alabi, Chief Judge of the state, Durosinlohun Kawu, Attorney-Geral and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Salman Jawondo, Yusuf Alli (SAN), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Saka Issau( SAN) Dele Adesina (SAN), and Kayode Olatoke (SAN) extolled Olanipekun’s achievements and commitment to the legal profession as they described him as, a studious, brilliant and diligent lawyer.