Most Demanded Lawyers

By Ruth Okwumbu

Wole Olanipekun: One of Africa’s Most Demanded Lawyers

After almost five decades of successful practice, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has built a portfolio that spans constitutional Law, pre and post-election dispute resolution, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, labour law, commercial litigation, criminal Law and general practice.

Olanipekun is a mentor and role model to hundreds of successful legal practitioners within and outside Nigeria. The legal legend is linked to several of Nigeria’s landmark cases and is in top demand internationally as an expert in Nigerian Law. Once you know the story behind this luminary, it is not hard to see why. Oluwole Oladapo Olanipekun attended Amoye Grammar School in his hometown Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, where he got his West Africa School Certificate (WASC) in 1969. He went further to the Ilesa Grammar school for another year, where he obtained the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1971.

After obtaining his, he went to study Law at the University of Lagos. He bagged his first degree, attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the bar in July 1976.

Wole’s career started as a junior counsel with Messrs Oniyangi & Co Ilorin between 1977 and 1979. In 1980, he moved out to found Wole Olanipekun & Co. and became the Principal Partner. He became a notary public in 1987.

There is no area or field in which Wole Olanipekun & Co. has not covered cases over the years. From criminal to constitutional, labour, maritime, admiralty, banking, insurance, electoral, aviation, telecommunications, chieftaincy and intellectual property laws, as well as arbitration and dispute resolution. Whether handling its case locally or internationally, Olanipekun has proven to be a stickler for excellence. The firm is now rated to be one of the most notable in Nigeria, with a presence in all states of the country, and headquarters in Lagos State, Nigeria.

His invaluable contributions to the advancement of the legal profession in Nigeria earned him the coveted rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in July 1991, roughly 15 years after he was called to bar. This was about the same period he was appointed as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, a position he served for two years.

Higher responsibilities

Prominent leadership positions may not come until the later part of one’s career, but often the preparatory days start much earlier. From serving as Senior Prefect in secondary school to serving as the Chairman of the Students Representative Committee in Ilesa Grammar School, and later Editorin-Chief of the school magazine (The Spike), Olanipekun always stood out from the crowd. At the University, he also served as secretary-general of the Students’ Union between 1973 and 1974.

After two and half decades of a successful legal career, Olanipekun was elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2002. His tenure as NBA president opposed oppression, repression, brutality, ruthlessness and injustice in all forms. In 2003, he became vice President of the Pan African Lawyers Union PALU by appointment. He is also a member of the International Bar Association, West African Bar Association (WABA), and Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association (CLA).

He has served as a member of the National Judicial council (NJC), Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), Council of Legal Education, Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee and General Council of the Bar. One may rightly say that Olanipekun has been critical to the growth of the legal profession in Nigeria.

It was courtesy of Olanipekun’s efforts that a court agreed, for the first time in Nigeria, that the impeachment of a governor could be looked into and overturned if it strictly failed to comply with the Law regarding procedure. He led the team of lawyers who retrieved the mandate of ex-Governors Adams Oshiomhole and Olusegun Mimiko. He also led a legal team for three presidential election petitions and won all.

Olanipekun has also extended his services into academia. He has served as the ProChancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the University of Ibadan, Oyo state. He also doubled as the Chairman of the Court of Governors of the College of Medicine, UI. He was appointed as the Chairman of the Council of Ajayi Crowther University (ACU) Oyo.

In February 2021, Olanipekun became the pioneer chancellor of the newly established Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere.

He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (FICMC), the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (FNIALS) and the College of Education, Ikere (FCEI). Wole Olanipekun has written and presented over 100 papers on diverse topics in Law, including; Economics, Politics, Literature and Corporate Governance, within and outside Nigeria.

He has also been giving back to society through philanthropic efforts that include donating facilities to schools and educational institutions, the Wole Olanipekun Scholarship scheme that has provided educational support for about two decades, the Wole Olanipekun Foundation that has financially empowered hundreds of youths, women and aged people.

Recognitions

The Nigerian Body of Benchers appointed Oluwole Olanipekun a life bencher in January 2007.

In 2012, Oluwole Olanipekun conferred the national honour of the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR). In November 2014, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa (LL.D) by UI. Quite recently in November 2021, he was conferred with Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by Redeemers University, Ede, Osun.