In ongoing legal battle within the Body of Benchers, the Secretary of the Body, Daniel M. Tela, has filed a counter affidavit in response to the originating summons filed by Augustine Oyarekhua Alegeh, SAN.

The case, which is currently before the Federal High Court in Lagos, has brought to light the internal leadership dispute within the prestigious legal body.

The counter affidavit, sworn to by Daniel M. Tela, provides insight into the circumstances surrounding the appointment of Alegeh as the Chairman of the Benchers Appointments Committee. Tela asserts that the immediate past Chairman, Hon. Justice Mary U. Peter-Odili, JSC (Rtd), orally approved Alegeh’s appointment, which was subsequently conveyed to him through a letter dated March 28, 2024.

However, the current Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Adeboyega Solomon Awomolo, SAN, issued a query to Tela on June 3, 2024, accompanied by a letter from the immediate past Chairman denying knowledge of Alegeh’s appointment. In response, Tela submitted a detailed letter on June 5, 2024, restating the events that transpired in his capacity as the Secretary of the Body.

Tela emphasized that he has served under four past Chairmen of the Body and has always conducted the affairs of the Body in accordance with its Regulations, which were made pursuant to the Legal Practitioners Act, 2014 (as revised). He also highlighted that the appointment of Alegeh as Chairman of the Benchers Appointments Committee was not an isolated incident, as there have been other instances where appointments were made based on verbal communication or SMS.

2nd Respondent’s Counter Affidavit To The Originat TheNigeriaLawyer

The counter affidavit further reveals that upon the assumption of office by Chief Awomolo as Chairman, Tela forwarded a list of the Standing Committees of the Body to him in a letter dated April 16, 2024. This letter included the names of the Benchers appointed to the Benchers Appointment Committee, indicating that Tela acted on the directives of the previous Chairman.

Tela expressed concern about the negative impact of the recent events on the Body’s image and integrity, stating that it has been a major distraction for him in the smooth operation of the Secretariat. He emphasized his commitment to advising and guiding the Chairman with honesty and integrity while ensuring that the image of the Body and its leadership is protected.

Attached to the counter affidavit are several exhibits, including the query issued by Chief Awomolo (Exhibit B1), Tela’s response to the query (Exhibit B2), the Body of Benchers Regulations (Exhibit B3), the letter of appointment issued to Alegeh (Exhibit B4), Alegeh’s acceptance letter (Exhibit B5), and the letter forwarding the list of Standing Committees to Chief Awomolo (Exhibit B6).

The exhibits provide additional context and evidence to support Tela’s assertions in the counter affidavit. They shed light on the sequence of events and the documentation surrounding Alegeh’s appointment as the Chairman of the Benchers Appointments Committee.