20th December, 2012
A senior advocate of Nigeria, Professor Abiodun Adesanya, who was alleged to have been parading himself as a member of the Body of Benchers after the expiry of his tenure has declared the allegation not only a falsehood but a plot to tarnish his reputation.
He was reacting to a newspaper publication that the Nigerian Bar Association has issued him a query to respond to a petition sent to the association by another senior advocate of Nigeria, Chief Gboyega Awomolo, that he signed an application for call to bar of a law student as a bencher whereas he was not.
As a result, the law student was rejected and the student was disqualified but given another chance of presenting another valid nomination by a member of Body of benchers.
However, Professor Adesanya said he was appointed by the Body of Benchers on 4 June, 2009 for a period of three years and, therefore, his tenure expired on 3 June, 2012; therefore, by the time he recommended the student in April, 2012, his tenure had not expired and would not expire until 3 June, 2012; therefore the recommendation he made was in order.
He further said the current attack on his person may not be unconnected with his resolve to fight corruption in certain places occupied by some lawyers, who are hell bent on enriching themselves with public funds.
Professor Adesanya expressed surprise that he has not received any query from the Nigerian Bar Association and wondered how Chief Awomolo got a letter that was not addressed to him before its delivery to him.
Professor Adesanya, who claimed that Chief Awomolo was his student at University of Ife and still remains his friend notwithstanding the petition he wrote against him, noted that recommending students for call to the bar does not attract any payment or reward.