News
NBA Asks Benchers Chairman, Wole Olanipekun To Step Down Over Partner’s Probe

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has asked legal luminary, Wole Olanipekun to step down as the Body of Benchers (BOB) chairman over the Saipem saga.
NBA President, Olumide Akpata signed a July 22 letter addressed to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Akpata made the call following a petition against Ms. Adekunbi Ogunde, a partner at Wole Olanipekun & Co.
Ogunde is accused of engaging in “conduct incompatible with her status and in flagrant disregard of rules of professional conduct”.
READ ALSO: Transfer: Arsenal Becomes Premier League’s Biggest Spenders This Summer [Top 6]
Akpata informed Olanipekun that the NBA had taken the matter to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
The LPDC is a panel under the BOB which Olanipekun, a former NBA President, heads.
Akpata said he is in a situation where his continued occupancy of the office would conflict with or influence LPDC processes.
“I am constrained to invite you to recuse yourself from the chairmanship of the BOB and to emplace and interim leadership.”
The NBA believes this would ensure the panel carried out its investigation of Ogunde, “without coming under the suspicion of impartiality”.
“I am pained that I have to make this call, but in this circumstance, it is in the best interest of our Association and of the legal profession in Nigeria ”, Akpata added.
She sent an email to Saipem Contracting Nigeria Ltd soliciting a brief after the Rivers state government preferred charges against the company over allegations of $130million fraud.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Court Remands Suspended Accountant-General In Prison
Though the firm of Henry Ajumogobia (SAN) is defending Saipem, Ogunde told the management to consider hiring Olanipekun & Co.
The partner informed CEO Francesco Caio that Olanipekun has more “influence” with judges across all courts.
“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. Chief Olanipekun SAN, OFR, will significantly switch things in favour of SAIPEM.”
Ogunde included that Olanipekun chairs the BOB comprising “supreme court judges, presiding justices of the court of appeal and chief judges of all state high courts, including the Rivers state high court.”
In a protest letter, Ajumogobia declared that the action was a breach of mandatory rule, especially the acknowledgement that Saipem had a counsel.
“That I and my firm of Ajumogobia & Okeke were retained in the matter, was a matter of public record and was personally known to you and your firm, since you had asked me about the matter during our Unilag Law Faculty Alumni dinner at Harbour point in February,” he wrote.
Ogunde apologized to Ajumogobia: “My email of 20th June 2022 (although done in exuberance, but in good faith and with altruism) has caused great distress, embarrassment and trauma to the people I hold and will continue to very dearly.”
On June 24, Olanipekun again apologized in a rejoinder, stressing that no one authorized the email by Ogunde.
“First, let it be known without any equivocation that the said letter was written without the instruction, authority, mandate, approval or consent of Wole Olanipekun & Co.; it was also not brought to our attention by the writer.
“Second, it has never been the practice of our law firm to solicit for cases or clientele, and we shall never indulge ourselves in this disturbing practice and trend.”
The letter said Ogunde acted on her own, “and we do wholly dissociate ourselves from the letter and its contents: internal measures would immediately be taken to address and redress this very unfortunate situation.”
“The writer never discussed her intention to write the letter or showed it to any person or counsel in the office, either before or after sending it to Mr. Caio.\
“We unreservedly apologize to the highly respected H. Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, OFR, and the entire law firm of Ajumogobia & Okeke for the embarrassment which the letter might have caused them”.
Olanipekun added that the matter has also caused his chamber “a lot of embarrassment as well”.
READ ALSO: NASS Complex Rehabilitation To Gulp N30.2 Billion – Minister
In petition BB/LPDC/901/2022 to the LPDC, John Aikpokpo-Martins, NBA vice president said the issue brought shame to the justice system and legal profession.
The body wants to know whether Wole Olanipekun & Co. “are not liable to be disciplined…seeing that the Respondent has the ostensible authority to act as a partner, and indeed acted for and on behalf of the said firm”.
News
NYSC Deploys 1,900 Corps Members To Bauchi State

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has deployed 1,900 corps members to Bauchi State for the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II orientation exercise.
Mr Kufre Umoren, NYSC State Coordinator, told journalists on Tuesday in Bauchi, that registration would be conducted from Sept. 24 to Sept. 26, at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Wailo in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.
He said the swearing-in ceremony of the corps members is billed for Sept. 26, and the orientation exercise would end on Oct. 14.
READ ALSO:NYSC Pays Arrears After Two-month Break
Umoren said each of the corps members would be allowed into the camp after being adequately certified to be genuine graduates.
He said discreet screening of the corps members would be conducted to guard against intrusion or impersonation.
“Registration dates have been announced to the corps members, and they are advised to adhere strictly to all camp rules and regulations.
READ ALSO:Release Corps Member’s Discharge Certificate, Falana Tells NYSC
“Defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the scheme’s extant rules,” he said, warning the scheme frowned at late-night journeys and urged corps members to avoid it for their own safety.
While urging them to be punctual, diligent, and comply with dress code, Umoren warned that defaulting corps members would be sanctioned.
News
Ife Not Origin Of Yoruba Race, Says Oluwo

The Oluwo of Iwo in Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has disputed the claim that Ile-Ife is the origin of the Yoruba race.
The royal father said the culture of the race is not in the ancient town of Ife, long noted as the origin of the Yoruba people.
Oluwo, who made this known in a video shared on his Facebook page on Tuesday, spoke in his palace while bestowing a chieftaincy title on one of his subjects.
Flanked by his Chiefs, Oluwo said Ife was not the origin of the Yoruba race, adding that people were living in the town before Oduduwa conquered the city and became its ruler.
He said the language spoken in ancient Ife was not the same as the common Yoruba language, restating his readiness to bring back the correct historical accounts of the Yoruba race.
READ ALSO:Tension In Osun Council As Ataoja, Oluwo Battle For Seniority
“Ife is not the origin of the Yoruba race. Those people don’t speak our language. Their language is different. They refer to God as Eledumare, and there is nothing like Eledumare in the Yoruba language. What we have is Olodumare.
“Ife people will always say Olofin, and if you ask them what the meaning is, they will tell you it means the owner of the palace, and what that means in Yoruba is ‘Alaafin’. Ile-Ife has no Yoruba culture.
“I am the ‘Arole Olodumare because I am here to tell you the true history. Iwo is where you can get the real history that was not even documented.
“Whatever I am telling you now, you must keep it because death can come anytime. I am not scared of death because it is inevitable,” Oluwo said in the Yoruba language.
READ ALSO:OPINION: Oluwo And The Glorification Of Ignorance (1)
The origin of the word ‘Yoruba’ often leads to controversy. The most recent one being the face-off involving the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, over a Chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland, allegedly bestowed on Ibadan-based businessman, Chief Dotun Sanusi by Ooni.
The PUNCH reports in August that the Ooni had bestowed the title on Sanusi during the unveiling of 2geda, an indigenous social media and business networking platform, at Ilaji Hotel, Ibadan.
But in a statement signed by his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin declared that no traditional ruler other than him has the authority to confer a title covering the entire Yorubaland. He issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to revoke the title or “face the consequences.”
READ ALSO:Why I’m Yet To Visit Ooni Of Ife — Alaafin Of Oyo
Reacting to Alaafin’s ultimatum, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, said the monarch had directed him to ignore the Alaafin’s outburst and leave the matter “in the court of public opinion.”
“We can not dignify the ‘undignifyable’ with an official response. We leave the matter to be handled in the public court of opinion, as it is already being treated.
“Let’s rather focus on narratives that unite us rather than the ones capable of dividing us. No press release, please. 48 hours my foot!” he wrote on his Facebook page.
(PUNCH)
News
Court Remands Man Who Beat Wife In Viral Video

A 57-year-old sawmiller, Fatai Quadri, who was seen in a viral video assaulting his wife, 50-year-old Rukayat Quadri, was on Monday remanded at the Correctional Centre at Ijebu Ode till October 17 for further hearing into the suit instituted against him by the police before the Ijebu Ode Magistrate Court.
Quadri, according to documents made available to our correspondent on Tuesday during his arraignment, was charged with a count bordering on assault, domestic violence, and breach of peace, among others.
The charge sheet reads “That you Quadri Fatai Abiodun ‘m on the 15/09/2025 at about 0600hrs at No: 11, Bakare Street, Oke-Owa, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State in the Ijebu-Ode Magisterial District did wilfully and unlawfully assault Mrs Rukayat Quadri 50yrs your wife, by beating her with a stick and several fist blow all over her body, which caused her bodily injuries and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 355 of the criminal code, Vol.1, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you Quadri Fatai Abiodun “M’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully beat Mrs Rukayat Quadri 50yrs your wife and by so doing committed “Domestic Violence” an offence punishable under Section 21(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2017.
“That you Quadri Fatai Abiodun ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault, beat and caused injuries to Mrs Rukayat Quadri 50yrs your wife and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2017.
READ ALSO:Police Detain Lagos NURTW Leader For Killing Resident
“That you Quadri Fatai Abiodun ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did intentionally intimidated, injured and threatened to the life of Mrs Rukayat Quadri 50yrs your wife not to go on the land you built 10 Rooms and Parlour Self Contains with Other Flats or otherwise and thereby committed an offence Punishable under Section 86 of the Criminal Code Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you Quadri Fatai Abiodun ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did willfully and unlawfully conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause the breach of public peace by using a stick with several fist blows to beat and injured Mrs Rukayat Quadri 50yrs your wife and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 249(1) (d) of the Criminal Code Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006”
Magistrate P O Odunsi has, however, adjourned the matter till October 17 for further hearing into the bail application of the suspect.
The Ogun State Police Command had on Saturday confirmed arresting Fatai seen in a viral video violently assaulting his wife, Rukayat, at their residence in Illese-Ijebu on the 15th of September, 2025.
Quadri, who was seen inflicting fist blows on the victim, resulting in bodily harm, was said to have been promptly apprehended by operatives of the Igbeba Divisional Police Headquarters, Ijebu Ode.
READ ALSO:Police Detain Lagos NURTW Leader For Killing Resident
The spokesperson of the state police command, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Saturday.
Odutola said that “Preliminary investigation revealed that the assault stemmed from a marital dispute arising from allegations of infidelity.
“The investigation further indicated that the suspect had transferred ownership of a 10-room en-suite apartment, jointly built with his wife, to another woman, which provoked the violent attack.
“The victim is presently receiving medical treatment, while the suspect remains in custody and will be charged in court upon conclusion of the investigation”
The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, however, used the opportunity to reiterate the command’s zero tolerance for domestic violence and warned that anyone found culpable of such an act will face the full wrath of the law.
READ ALSO:
Speaking over the incident, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN described the incident as very reprehensible, saying that the government was unhappy with such criminal acts and that the suspect, who is already in police custody, would be taken to court on Monday.
Ogungbade explained that “the government is aware of the viral video and we condemn it in its totality. The suspect is in police custody already.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has been very proactive concerning it.
“The matter is being transferred to the Gender Unit. He will be arraigned in Court on Monday”
The Attorney General said that the state government has always warned against all sorts of criminal acts, particularly gender-based violence and that this particular incident will be another opportunity to drive home the present administration’s posture of zero tolerance to such condemnable acts.
READ ALSO:Court Remands Tiktoker Who Claimed President Tinubu Died
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, also said that she had already briefed one of the state officials to follow up on the incident, pledging that the government would ensure justice is served on the matter.
Adeleye said that “The government is not happy with such criminal acts, our position has always been zero tolerance to gender-based violence. Definitely, the suspect will account for his misdeeds, justice will be served, I assure the residents of the state.
“Already he has been picked up by the police and should be taken to court on Monday; the ministry officials will be there to lend our support and ensure that justice is served.”
- News4 days ago
FULL LIST: FJSC Releases Names Of 62 Candidates Shortlisted For Judicial Positions
- Entertainment5 days ago
How Obi Surprised Me Early Morning with ‘Ghana-must-go’ Bag — Charly Boy
- Politics5 days ago
BREAKING: 24hrs After, Fubara Finally Arrives Port Harcourt
- Politics4 days ago
Full Text Of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s Statewide Broadcast
- Politics5 days ago
PDP NWC Directs S’South Zonal Caretaker Committee To Oversee Cross River Chapter
- Business4 days ago
Marketers Get Dangote’s Free Fuel Supply
- Politics4 days ago
Fubara To Address Rivers Today
- Metro4 days ago
Edo Govt Arrests 20 Suspected Cultists, Demolishes Properties
- Metro4 days ago
Police Arrest 10 Suspected Drug Peddlers In Delta, Recover Illicit Drugs
- Entertainment5 days ago
PHOTOS: Singer Spyro Announces Engagement To Partner