Nigeria’s President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assembled a 50 man team of lawyers, all Senior Advocates to defend his victory at the February 25, 2023 presidential poll. The team is headed by Nigeria foremost lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN
At the inaugural meeting which held on Tuesday, 7th March, 2023, at the Ikoyi office of his lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, the President-Elect informed the team that the task before them was not just about defending his election, but was a task that had as its heart, the defence of democracy.
The President-elect, in his charge to his team of counsel, referred to the results of the presidential election, particularly those of Lagos and Katsina, respectively, the home States of himself and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, citing them as erstwhile unthinkable outcomes that were only possible due to the free and fair nature of the election.
Tinubu informed the team of his complete trust in their abilities, stating that over the years, he had worked with most of them in the course of his own defence of democracy and democratic institutions, and had complete faith in their ability to bring their wealth of knowledge, experience and diligence to bear in the defence of popular wish of the Nigerian people. Thereafter, he thanked them for their patriotism, altruism and selflessness. He was of the view that by volunteering to accept his instruction, they not only represented him, but the Nigerian people who clearly stated their choice, and to that extent, he commended the assemblage of senior counsel for their comity, camaraderie, collegiality, partnership and solidarity with the masses.
In his remarks, Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, accepted the charge handed down by the President-Elect, noting that given the calibre of counsel gathered, it was not a question of leadership, but one of team work. He urged it upon all members of the team that the task before them was a solemn and sober one, and one they must execute by bringing every inch of their expertise to bear. He spoke on the enormity of the task, and insisted that as it has to do with the instrumentality of the law, the team was ready to extract, extricate and excavate any legal authority, no matter where they may be hidden in the world, in order to actuate the President-Elect’s instructions.
Other counsel at the meeting, including but not limited to Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Mallam Yusuf, Ali, SAN, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, Chukwuma Ekomaru, SAN, Dr. Hassan Liman, SAN, Professor Dakas Dakas, SAN and Anthony Malik, SAN, also contributed to the meeting by recognising and aligning themselves with the solemnity of the task before them, and pledging to leave no stone unturned in effectuating the President-Elect’s mandate.
Also in attendance at the meeting were Babatunde Ogala SAN, the All Progressives Congress’ Legal Adviser, Ahmad El-Marzuq, Life Bencher, and Festus Keyamo, SAN. In their contributions, they assured counsel of the Party’s support whenever required, and insisted on the sanctity of the President-Elect’s mandate.
The members of the President-Elect’s legal team include:
Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN,
Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN,
Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN
Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN
Emmanuel Ukala, SAN
Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN
Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN
Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN
Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, SAN
Tani Molajo, SAN
Tayo Oyetibo, SAN
Mike Igbokwe, SAN
Bayo Adelodun, SAN
Oladele Adesina, SAN
Oladipo Okpeseyi, SAN
Lawal Pedro SAN
Chukwuma Ekomaru, SAN
Olasupo Shasore SAN
Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN
Dr. Hassan Liman, SAN
Adesegun Ajibola, SAN
Solomon Umoh, SAN
Tunde Busari SAN
Prof. Dakas Dakas, SAN
Ogwu James Onoja SAN
Prof. J. Olukayode Olatoke, SAN
Chief Hakeem Afolabi, SAN
Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN
Oladapo Olanipekun, SAN
A.U Mustapha, SAN
Chief Yomi Aliyu, SAN
Olusola Oke, SAN
Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN
Bode Olanipekun SAN
Prof Lawan Yusufari SAN
Anthony Malik SAN
Babatunde Ogala, SAN
Funmi Quadri SAN
Remi Olatubora, SAN
Kunle Adegoke, SAN
Abdul Mohammed Rafindadi, SAN
Chief Anthony Adeniyi, SAN
Marcel Oru, SAN
M.A Abubakar, SAN Said Sanusi, SAN
Adebayo Mutalubi Ojo, SAN
Hanafin Mumin, SAN
Prince Lukman Fagbemi, SAN
Ahmad El-Marzuq, Esq
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