Lawyer Adekunbi Ogunde has come under criticism for attempting to snatch the client of a colleague Odein Ajumogobia using the name of Wole Olanipekun.
Ogunde, who is in charge of getting business deals at Olanipekun’s law firm, had written Ajumogobia’s client, Saipem, urging the company to consider choosing her law firm over Ajumogobia’s in a suit alleging $130 million fraud brought against it by Rivers State Government.
She said, “I believe that you need a more influential lawyer/law firm to prevent a potential huge payout to the Rivers State Government and without a doubt, I believe that my law firm, Wole Olanipekun & Co., can help in this regard.”
Ogunde also claimed Olanipekun would use his “influence” as chairman of the Body of Benchers to win judgement in favour of Saipem.
“We are aware that another law firm is currently in the matter but you will agree that highly-sensitive and political matters require more influence. We are happy to work with the current lawyers to achieve the desired results,” she said.
“Chief Olanipekun SAN, OFR, in the matter will significantly switch things in favour of SAIPEM. Chief Olanipekun SAN, OFR is currently the chairman of the Body of Benchers, which is the highest ruling body in the Nigerian legal profession, made up of supreme court judges, presiding justices of the court of appeal and chief judges of all state high courts, including the Rivers state high court.”
Both Ajumogobia and Olanipekun have condemned Ogunde’s move.
Ajumogobia said in a mail on June 23 to Olanipekun’s firm, “I am shocked and appalled at the contents of the letter, written by one Adekumbi Ogunde who describes herself in the letter as a partner in your firm.
“I must also express my extreme disappointment and utter disillusionment, that a letter of this nature should emanate from your chambers, given your stature at the bar generally and as the current Chairman of the body of benchers, in particular.”
He added that Ogunde’s attempt to hijack his client “could not be more egregious in its breach of this essential mandatory rule, especially in its acknowledgement that the defendant companies had already retained counsel”.
However, Olanipekun replied in a letter dated June 24, saying he did not authorise Ogunde’s move.
“In effect, the writer of the letter under reference was on her own, and we do wholly dissociate ourselves from the letter and its contents: while internal measures would immediately be taken to address and redress this very unfortunate situation,” he said.
