‘I did no wrong’ — Olanipekun speaks on supreme court fine

Wole Olanipekun, senior advocate of Nigeria, says he did no wrong in filing an application seeking a review of the supreme court judgement on the Bayelsa state governorship election.

Olanipekun, who was the counsel of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and David Lyon in the matter, spoke on Sunday during a thanksgiving service in commemoration of a church auditorium he donated to the St. Peters Anglican Church, Ikere Ekiti.

Olanipekun and Afe Babalola, another senior advocate of Nigeria, both of whom represented the APC and Lyon, were fined N30m by the supreme court over the application.

The apex court struck out the suit and ordered the lawyers to pay the money to Douye Diri, who emerged governor after Lyon was sacked on February 13.

The senior advocate described himself as one of the few lawyers in the country that try as much as possible to practice the profession according to laid-down rules.

He added that the truth of the matter would be revealed soon.

“I have not had any regret, I can tell you, in the profession of law that I have practised since 1976 when I was called to the bar, I thank God for what he has made out of me. I see it as a ministry,” he said.

“Forget about what you read, I have done no wrong. Truth will come out.

“I haven’t done any wrong. I would be one of the few lawyers in Nigeria, who would say that I tried as much as possible to practise the profession in the best tradition of the bar, the best tradition of the legal profession.

“At the end of the day, truth will come out. We thank God for everything. I won’t say more than that now.”