Wole Olanipekun: Tinubu’s ace man at the Presidential Tribunal, who really is he?

Chief Wole Olanipekun is one of the biggest names in the Nigerian judiciary.

A favourite of top politicians, especially those with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission troubles or election wahala, his services don’t come easy. This is because he is a top demand in Nigeria.

There are hush talks that just a knock on his door could leave a potential client with a deficit in millions of Naira.

This is aside from the cost of litigation and other logistics in between. So, his clients are understandably among the biggest names in Nigeria.

In 2019, Olanipekun, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, led a team of eight other senior lawyers to defend President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration as the winner of the election. Buhari’s opponent at the election tribunal was Atiku Abubakar.

Olanipekun came out sparkling because all five judges that handled the case, ruled in favour of Buhari. The Supreme Court later affirmed the ruling.

Olanipekun is now on the same familiar turf. This time, to defend Buhari’s successor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In the case of Buhari, Olanipekun’s task was to argue two major points. One, that Buhari won the election with a majority of lawful votes, and two, that Buhari’s missing West African School Examination Certificate was not a hindrance enough to becoming Nigeria’s president.

In the case of Tinubu, there are many issues in contention. Among them are that the election was marred by widespread rigging, and that Tinubu was not eligible to contest the election because of an alleged drug case in the United States where he allegedly forfeited $450,000. Also, that he has a doubtful educational record and identity, and that he has dual citizenship, which meant divided loyalty for Nigeria and Guinea Bissau. Will Olanipekun’s wit pull Tinubu out of the maize? Time will tell.

But there are others who criticise the learned silk because of the action of one of his lawyers in his chambers.

Recall that in June 2022, a lawyer in Olanipekun’s law firm, Adekunbi Ogunde, admitted to having sent an email to SAIPEM Contracting Nigeria Ltd, soliciting a brief with a teaser that their founder has “influence” with judges across all courts.

Olanipekun has apologized, stating that he never approved the email sent by the lawyer.

The 72-year-old Olanipekun is a native of Ikere-Ekiti. He attended Amoye Grammar School in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, southwestern Nigeria but obtained the West Africa School Certificate at Ilesa Grammar before he proceeded to the University of Lagos, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law.

He was called to the bar in July 1976 after he graduated from the Nigerian Law School and subsequently attained the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in July 1991, the same year in which he was appointed as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State and served in that capacity for two years.

In 2002, he was elected as President of the Nigerian Bar Association. In 2003 he was appointed the Vice President of the Pan African Lawyers Union.

In January 2007, he became a Life bencher, appointed by the Nigerian Body of Benchers. He was the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the University of Ibadan between 2004 and 2006.

In 2003, he was appointed the Vice President of the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU).

Chief Olanipekun, SAN, OFR is the Principal Partner of Wole Olanipekun and Co, a leading law firm in Nigeria with headquarters in Lagos State, a branch in Abuja and a presence in all the states in Nigeria.

Olanipekun is married to Erelu Omo-ale Olanipekun and they have four children (among them Oladapo Olanipekun, Olabode Olanipekun, Bukola Olanipekun, and Temitope Olanipekun) – and is a grandfather.