According to Daily Post, A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) dismissed a lawsuit filed by Abuja-based lawyer Chidinma Udebuani, which sought to remove Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, former Chairman of the Body of Benchers, from office.
Justice Anthony Ebong ruled that the case was moot since Olanipekun had already completed his term. He also noted that the plaintiff and her counsel had abandoned the case.
Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation, represented Olanipekun in the proceedings. Agabi requested the dismissal due to the absence of the plaintiff and her counsel, which the court agreed with, stating that their absence reinforced the notion that the matter was now academic.
Chidinma filed the lawsuit on August 2, 2022, asking the court to compel Olanipekun to step down as Chairman and to void the Call to Bar ceremony he led on July 27, 2022. Other defendants included the Body of Benchers, Ms. Adekunbi Ogunde, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General of the Federation, and Mr. Olumide Akpata.
In her affidavit, Chidinma referenced an email from Ms. Adekunbi Ogunde to SAIPEM Construction Nigeria Limited, alleging that Olanipekun would use his position to influence judges. The NBA had responded by requesting the LPDC to investigate the potential professional misconduct and asked Olanipekun to step aside during the inquiry.
Chidinma's summons included several legal questions, such as whether the email constituted a confessional statement under the Evidence Act 2011 and if it warranted Olanipekun's removal as Chairman. She also questioned the validity of the Call to Bar ceremony and sought a thorough investigation into the law firm’s practices.
She requested various declarations and orders, including nullifying the Body of Benchers' meeting resolutions on July 26, 2022, voiding the Call to Bar ceremony, and mandating an investigation into alleged judicial subversion.
However, due to the repeated absence of Chidinma and her lawyer, Justice Ebong deemed the case abandoned and struck it out.