Former President of the Nigerian
Bar Association, NBA, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), will lead the legal team
assembled by President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC,
to defend the President’s mandate in court.
A former Attorney-General of Ogun
State and younger brother to the Vice-President, Akin Osinbajo (SAN), as well
as the Spokesman for the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN),
are among the 18 senior advocates that will go head to head with former
Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PUNCH reports on
Friday.
It was also learnt that a former
President of the NBA, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), Mr. Femi Atoyebi (SAN), Mike
Igbokwe (SAN) and Niyi Akintola (SAN) will represent Buhari.
Other senior advocates involved
include election petition expert Yusuf Ali (SAN), and Osaro Egbobamien (SAN).
Others who were hired by the APC
include, the Chairman of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Muiz
Banire (SAN), Alex Iziyon (SAN), Banbella Anachebe (SAN), Charles Edosomwan
(SAN), Funke Adekoya (SAN), Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, Ibrahim Bawa (SAN) and Yakubu
Maikyau.
One of the senior advocates who
spoke to the PUNCH on the condition of anonymity said this was the biggest and
most deadly squad ever assembled for an election petition case.
He said, “The President and the
APC will make the news official soon. But let me tell you without mincing words
that this is the biggest and most deadly squad ever assembled for an election
petition case.
“We are more than ready to face
Atiku.”
The lead counsel, Olanipekun
(SAN), was the one who led a team of lawyers in 2015 to defend Buhari when he
was being sued for his failure to provide his WAEC certificate.
He also helped the national
leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to escape a conviction when he was
brought before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in 2011.
Olanipekun, who is a former
President of the NBA has won numerous landmark cases in court.
He is also the lead counsel for
the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who is
standing trial before the CCT for alleged non-declaration of assets.
When approached for comment on
Friday, Olanipekun said, “Please, I have no comment on the matter.”
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