Alleged Solicitation: Bode Olanipekun Writes Henry Ajugomobia on ‘Unauthorized Correspondence’

As more lawyers and the general public continue to react to reports of alleged solicitation by Wole Olanipekun & Co (WOC) and a disclaimer by the firm signed by two its Associates Counsel, LAWYARD has obtained further representations made by the managing partner of the firm, Mr. Bode Olanipekun SAN in a letter to Mr. Henry O. Ajumogobia SAN.

An email from Ajugomobia SAN of Ajugomobia & Okeke (A&O) to Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN of WOC, which found its way to the public, had expressed umbrage at a certain email purportedly written by a Partner at WOC, soliciting Saipem Contracting Nigeria Ltd, a client of A&O, and stressing the need to retain the services of WOC for varied reasons, including the standing of Chief Olanipekun SAN within the legal profession.

In a letter titled “RE: USD  130 MILLION CLAIM IN NIGERIA-RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT VS. SAIPEM SPA, SAIPEM CONTRACTING NIGERIA LTD & ORS.” dated 26th June, 2022 and seen by Lawyard, the WOC managing partner reiterated the content of the disclaimer letter earlier issued from the firm on 24th June, 2022, in respect of the ‘unauthorized correspondence’ that warranted the disclaimer.

In the letter, Bode Olanipekun stated that he was in court outside Lagos when the email notifying the firm’s founding partner, Chief Olanipekun SAN of the unauthorized correspondence was brought to his attention. He, however, stated that he immediately put several calls to Mr. Ajumogobia, SAN’s phone, which said calls rang free. He also mentioned in the said letter that he sent WhatsApp messages to the learned SAN, apologizing for what Olanipekun described as the “unauthorized, unfortunate and scandalous” correspondence.

According to Mr. Olanipekun, he is aware that the firm’s founder, Chief Olanipekun, SAN, with whom Mr. Ajumogobia shares significant history, also reached out to Mr. Ajumogobia to express his apologies for the incident. In the letter, Olanipekun who confirmed that his firm and that of Mr. Ajumogobia subscribe to very high standards of ethics and decency, maintained that such despicable practice could not have been sanctioned by his firm. In his words, “In the same manner that you subscribe to very high standards of ethics and decency, such standards are non-negotiable basics and uncompromisable for our firm. Indeed, in our firm’s 42 years history, we have never solicited for client engagement in the manner of the unauthorized correspondence, neither do we give clients assurance(s) of judicial outcomes. We are also bold to assert that, there has also not been a single instance where we have attempted to influence judicial outcomes by improper means, influence peddling or means outside our representations in court.”

A lawyer familiar with the matter, who opted to speak to LAWYARD on the conditions of anonymity, stated that he is familiar with the leadership of both firms and attested that they are people of character and role models in ethical conduct. According to the lawyer,  “it is now more shocking that everyone who had been following the case, knows that for about two months now or thereabout, the said case had been settled, thereby making the initial letter totally uncalled for and of no utilitarian value. Thus, no well informed lawyer will make such a pitch, even if it is permissible and it will be surprising if such letter had the authority of a law firm like Wole Olanipekun & Co.”

You can read the letter from the WOC managing partner below.

Letter to Ajumogobia & Okeke in re WOC Disclaimer.

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