The Nigerian Bar Association’s, president Olumide Akpata, was on Tuesday absent at the meeting of the Body of Benchers held in Abuja.
The meeting, which was held at the Body of Benchers Complex in Jabi, Abuja was attended by key stakeholders in the legal profession, including the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola; past Chief Justices of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Also in attendance was a retired Supreme Court Justice who doubles as the Vice-Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Mary Odili.
Others were past Presidents of the NBA, including Paul Usoro (SAN), O. C. J. Okocha (SAN), Joseph Daudu (SAN), Okey Wali (SAN), Abubakar Mahmud (SAN), and several other leaders of the legal profession, some of whom participated virtually.
Akpata, who, by virtue of his office, is a member of the BOB, failed to attend Tuesday’s meeting, the first since he requested the BOB Chairman, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), to step down over a petition against a lawyer in Olanipekun’s firm.
As of press time, no reason was given for his absence, while calls to his number were not replied.
The meeting by the BOB was held in furtherance of its traditional preparations for the Call to Bar ceremonies scheduled for Wednesday, among other important issues bordering on the security of the nation particularly as it affects the legal profession.
Sources said the BOB meeting did not discuss Akpata’s comment on Olanipekun.
