Get Guardian on GooglePresident Bola Tinubu will, on November 19, unveil a six-volume publication documenting landmark cases handled by renowned lawyer Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, during his five decades in the Nigerian legal profession.
Titled Wole Olanipekun Through the Cases, the publication examines the contributions of the senior lawyer to the development of Nigerian law and jurisprudence through commentaries on some of the significant cases he has handled since his call to the Nigerian Bar in 1976.
The unveiling, scheduled to take place under the auspices of the WOC Justice Summit, will come a day after Olanipekun’s 75th birthday on November 18, 2026.
The publication features forewords by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
It brings together contributions from retired jurists, academics, Senior Advocates of Nigeria and other prominent legal practitioners, offering an extensive review of Olanipekun’s legal career and the impact of his advocacy on the country’s jurisprudence.
Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1976, Olanipekun became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in July 1991, shortly before his 40th birthday. He was appointed Attorney-General of the old Ondo State in 1992 and later served as President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in 2002.
He also served as Chairman of the Body of Benchers between 2022 and 2023.
In academia, Olanipekun is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos. He previously held similar positions at the University of Ibadan and Ajayi Crowther University, where he currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
He is also the Chancellor of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, his hometown.
Over his 50-year legal career, including 35 years as a Senior Advocate, Olanipekun has handled several cases that have shaped Nigeria’s legal landscape. Notably, he has successively served as lead counsel to the four presidents who have held office since 2007 in legal challenges to their respective elections.
The cases, alongside other significant matters, form part of the six-volume publication, which seeks to document his contributions to the country’s legal development.
The unveiling will form a major highlight of the WOC Justice Summit, an initiative of Wole Olanipekun & Co. designed to bring together thought leaders and stakeholders to discuss issues affecting the justice sector.
The theme of this year’s summit is “From Precedent to Possibility: The Lawyer’s Role in Shaping the Next Fifty Years of Justice, Democracy and Public Trust.”
The event is expected to attract policymakers and leading figures in the legal, political, economic, and business communities.
It will also provide an opportunity to reflect on Olanipekun’s five-decade journey in the legal profession and assess the significance of his contributions to Nigerian jurisprudence, as documented in the publication.
Further details, including the full programme and list of participating personalities, are expected to be announced ahead of the summit.
