Oyinlola’s Lawyer Loses Licence Over Election Case

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee has expelled
a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Kunle Kalejaye, from further practising as
a lawyer.

The LPDC disbarred Kalejaye after finding him guilty of
professional misconduct. A five-man panel of the LPDC, led by the President of
the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, conducted the investigation.

The LPDC found Kalejaye guilty of misconduct while
representing the Peoples Democratic Party and its then candidate, Prince
Olagunsoye Oyinlola, at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal,
where Oyinlola’s victory in the 2007 poll was being challenged by the then
candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.

Kalejaye was said to have engaged in a “confidential,
private and confidential telephone conversation” with the Chairman of the Osun
State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Thomas Naron, without
the knowledge of the other party.

He allegedly engaged in the unprofessional act between March
and June 2008 and the Justice Naron with whom he committed the misconduct had
since February 20, 2013 been compulsorily retired by the National Judicial
Council.

The panel directed the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court
to delete his name from the roll (list) of legal practitioners in the country.

It also directed that the decision be published in the
media.

Under the Legal Practitioners Act, Kalejaiye has up to 28
days to appeal the decision, failing which it will become effective.

Punch