REJOINDER TO THE UNFOUND ALLEGATIONS OF A DESPERATE “CLERGYMAN” VENERABLE OKUNUGA AND HIS SOCIAL MEDIA “PROSECUTION

PROF. YEMI OKE

PhD; LL.M (Osgoode Hall, York University, Canada) LL.B (IIorin); B.L (Abuja).

 

Department of Jurisprudence and International Law

Faculty of Law, University of Lagos

Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

Mobile: +234-802-314-8096; (Land line) +234-7420496

E mail: yemioke@mjs - ca.com, yoke @ unilag. edu.ng

REJOINDER TO THE UNFOUND ALLEGATIONS OF A DESPERATE 

“CLERGYMAN” VENERABLE OKUNUGA AND HIS SOCIAL MEDIA 

“PROSECUTION”

(1) My attention has been drawn to yet another desperate moves by Venerable 

B. O. Okunuga to frustrate my long-held dream, desire and aspiration to 

becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) through an on-line document 

captioned: “Clergyman Call on LPPC to Disqualify Law Professor from SAN 

Rank alleging Fraudulent and Sharp Practices” published on September 23, 

2023 by Halima Abiola at: <loyalnigerianlawyer.com>. 

(2) I have never met or set my eyes on Venerable Okunuga till date. While I 

appreciate the fact that, in line with the tradition of Legal Practitioners 

Privileges Committee (LPPC) to invite comments on suitability of applicants, 

comments may be made, but certainly gallery-dancing on social media over 

a private communication with the LPPC is, to the least cheap and desperate 

of Venerable Okunuga.

(3) Venerable Okunuga had earlier submitted the same petition against my 

application for SAN on 7th October, 2020. My confirmation had to be put on 

hold for the LPPC to thoroughly look into the misplaced allegations.

(4) I appeared before the LPPC in respect of the earlier petition of Venerable 

Okunuga. The LLPC ruled that Suit. No. LD/2437LM/2019 filed by Venerable 

Okunuga raised an allegation against my person and that my eligibility to 

proceed will be put on hold until the suit is finally determined.

(5) I filed an appeal against the decision but my appeal was not successful. 

(6) While the case was pending, I made attempts for apply for SAN again in 

2021. The LPPC wrote that I will not be eligible to apply until the suit was 

determined.

(7) I applied again in the year 2022 in the hope that the suit would have been 

determined. I continued to pray to God for victory. The suit, Suit. No. 

LD/2437LM/2019 was dismissed in 2022 after names of applicants for SAN 

in 2022 had been shortlisted. 

(8) I contacted the LPPC through a letter. The LPPC wrote that, unfortunately, 

applications and processing for the year 2022 SAN was almost concluded 

and that I can only apply for the next edition in 2023.

(9) I applied for the 2023 edition and was shortlisted only for the “Clergyman” 

repeat the same malicious petition with minor additions.

(10) The issue of Ogunade Family over Nos. 366 and 368 Muritatala Mohammed 

Way dates back to 1991. The Head of the Ogunade Family filed a suit in 

2000, before I was called to the Nigerian bar in January 2001. The suit, No. 

ID/198/2000 – Prince Ogunade & Ors vs Venerable Okunuga & Ors

has continued till date. Parties are now on appeal.

(11) We became a tenant in No. 366 Muritala Mohammed Way through the 

Landlord, Prince Ogunade. We handled some matters for the landlord. 

(12) The unfound, malicious allegation of “collusion” with Prince Ogunade simply 

because our firm is a Counsel is, to say the least, most wicked. 

(13) Ours is a Partnership. I do mostly advisory, research and consultancy. I’m 

not the Counsel on record in the matter but the wicked Venerable Okunuga 

has mindlessly singled me out because of my aspiration to be made a Senior 

Advocate of Nigeria. 

(14) If he has criminal allegations against Prince Ogunade or my person, he 

knows where to pursue same. I’d refrained from taking out suits against 

him for defamation to avoid beclouding the sense of judgement of the LPPC 

in respect of his earlier application of 7th October 2020. 

(15) There is not truth in the misplaced, wicked and most malicious allegations 

of Venerable Okunuga. The Ogunade family and its headship have been 

fighting over Nos. 366 and 368 since 1991 being the properties of their 

daughter, Late Mrs Morgan (Nee Ogunade). Family dispute over land should 

ordinarily not be taken personal against a Counsel. 

(16) I’m very sure the LPPC is a fair professional institution and will not allow 

the desperate Venerable Okunuga to again “re-litigate” his misplaced 

grievances for which I’d been cleared by the LPPC after rigorous scrutiny. 

(17) The ethics of the legal profession will not allow me to say or write beyond 

debunking the unfound allegations of Venerable Okunuga. His transferred 

aggression is misplaced and had better been directed at the Ogunades. 

(18) I remain an applicant before the LPPC. I’ll be unable to say or volunteer 

further facts or vital documents or exhibits on social media just to show 

that the allegations of Venerable Okunuga are baseless. 

(19) By rules, if the LPPC deems it necessary, I will be contacted to make a 

formal response to Venerable Okunuga’s renewed allegations for the 

second time.

(20) In view of the fact that my image and professional reputation is being 

unjustly maligned publicly, I have contacted my lawyers to do the needful. 

Thank you.

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Prof. Ganiu Adeyemi Oke, Ph.D, FCArb, FCTI