*As Former Branch Chair Dan Olawale Esq Corroborates Niyi Akintola’s Controversial Comments About Akpata

The immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Akure branch, Rotimi Olorunfemi Esq has written to the newly inaugurated President of the Association, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN on his intention to refund the N100,000 provided as reimbursement to branch Chairmen for monies spent in securing accommodation during the just concluded NBA Annual General Conference.

Recall that during the conference, the immediate past NBA President, Olumide Akpata approved the reimbursement of N100,000 to each branch Chairman for expenses incurred for accommodation during the conference.

However, in a letter dated 29th of August, 2022, and sighted by Legaldeskng, Mr Rotimi who recently handed over the reins of leadership in the Akure bar to a new administration, requested the new NBA President to furnish him with the account details of the Association for a refund of the N100,000.

According to him, recent happenings in the Association has made it imperative on him to refund the money.

He said; “However, in view of recent happenings at the Bar starting with the kill-the-chicken-and break-the-egg handling of the issue involving our revered Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN’s Law Firm, the purported illegal suspension of the immediate Past General Secretary of the Association, Mrs Joyce Oduah, which climaxed in a Federal High Court lampooning the National Executive Council (NEC) of NBA (of which I was a member until last week when my tenure expired as Chairman, Akure Branch) for the shoddy manner it handled the matter and above all, the very ugly incident of lawyers-on-rampage during the recently concluded AGC which portrayed our very noble association in very bad light before the whole world owing largely to the very poor and selfish planning by the nepotically selected Technical Committee on Conference Planning, TCCP, of this year annual Conference, I have decided that I cannot in good conscience keep and/or expend this money for my personal benefit.”

He continued, “It is on the above premises, that I therefore humbly request Mr. President to instruct the National Treasurer to kindly forward the Association’s account details to me with a view to refunding the money to the association’s coffers forthwith. IN THE ALTERNATIVE if I have Mr President’s approval I can pay the money into my Branch account for the benefit of my Branch and I will forward the teller to the National Secretariat.

If however, I do not receive any response from the national body as herein requested within the next 14 working days of the receipt of the letter by you sir, I shall draw a Bank Draft in this sum and send same to the President via this same medium without further delay.

While I thank and appreciate the immediate past administration led by Mr. Olumide Akpata, who I hold and continue to hold in very high esteem, for this harmless gesture of reimbursing my accommodation expenses during the AGC, my conscience will not know rest if I accept the payment”.

In a related development, another Former Chairman of the NBA Akure branch, Ola Dan Olawale has corroborated controversial remarks made by Niyi Akintola SAN about the Akpata administration. Akintola SAN has been at the centre of condemnations over remarks in which he disparaged Olumide Akpata on a radio program over the weekend.

According to Olawale who was Chairman of the Akure Bar from 2018 to 2020, Akintola’s comments about a pact by Yoruba lawyers not to support Akpata is true, saying he, like Akintola did abide by the agreement.

He further eulogized Akintola as bold, courageous and truthful and prayed to be like him.

His statement reads: ““`A kìí s’òrò ká kú síbè.

Chief Niyi Akintola SAN has said his own like Omo Akin.

He claimed he made a pact with some people not to support Mr. Akpata’s administration as NBA President. He proudly stood by his decision, despite betrayers from close quarters.

He asserted Mr. Olumide Akpata is a businessman. I have checked my Dictionary only to discover that that the Learned Silk is right.

My prayer is to be as bold, courageous and truthful as Chief Niyi Akintola SAN when it matters.

For the betrayers here and there, note that *ohun a bá f’òní se, yîo d’ìtàn lóla.*

I was part of the pact made at Aare Afe Babalola Bar Center, Ibadan. I am also proud to say that I stood by it all through.”