Major losers in 23 February 2019 presidential election in Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have been put on their toes as All Progressives Congress (APC) forms a team of heavyweights in the legal profession to meet them in court over their challenge of its candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the election.
The DEFENDER recently reported that the Official Spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), had told Atiku and his party that his candidate, Buhari, could not wait to defeat him again in court.
Leading the team of other counsels to tackle the opposition’s challenge at the Presidential Election Tribunal is a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), while the juggernaut of other legal heavyweights to challenge the challengers along Olanipekun, as assembled by President Buhari and the APC, include a former Attorney-General of Ogun State and younger brother to the Vice-President, Mr. Akin Osinbajo (SAN), as well as the Spokesman for the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), among 18 senior advocates that will go shoulder-to-should in thundering through the legal arsenals being deployed by Atiku and PDP.
According to a media report, it was also learned that the immediate past President of the NBA, Mallam Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), Mr. Femi Atoyebi (SAN), Mike Igbokwe (SAN) and Niyi Akintola (SAN) will represent Buhari.
Other senior advocates involved include election petition expert Yusuf Ali (SAN), and Osaro Egbobamien (SAN).
Others who were hired by the APC include, the Chairman of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), Alex Iziyon (SAN), Banbella Anachebe (SAN), Charles Edosomwan (SAN), Funke Adekoya (SAN), Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, Ibrahim Bawa (SAN) and Yakubu Maikyau.
One of the senior advocates who spoke to a newsman on the condition of anonymity said this was the biggest and most deadly squad ever assembled for an election petition case.
He said, “The President and the APC will make the news official soon. But let me tell you without mincing words that this is the biggest and most deadly squad ever assembled for an election petition case.
“We are more than ready to face Atiku.”
The lead counsel, Olanipekun (SAN), was the one who led a team of lawyers in 2015 to defend Buhari when he was being sued for his failure to provide his WAEC certificate.
He also helped the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to escape a conviction when he was brought before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in 2011.
Olanipekun, who is a former President of the NBA has won numerous landmark cases in court.
He is also the lead counsel for the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who is standing trial before the CCT for alleged non-declaration of assets.
When approached for comment on Friday, Olanipekun said, “Please, I have no comment on the matter.”
