*Alleges abuse of office
Ondo resident asks LPDC to remove the
A resident of Ondo State, one Mr. Fesobi Adeyemo, has petitioned the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee in Abuja, demanding urgent disqualification of the former Attorney General of Ondo State, Mr. Charles Titiloye.
He also called for his removal from the list of Nigerian lawyers shortlisted to be conferred with the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank.
In the petition dated July 4, 2024, addressed to Secretary of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, and obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, Adeloye alleged that Titiloye is not fit and qualified to be conferred with the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
He said his objection against Titiloye being conferred with the rank of SAN followed the former Ondo state attorney general’s antecedents while he was in office.
Adeyemo alleged that Titiloye engaged in professional misconduct, abuse of oath of office and used the office of the Attorney General to intimidate/oppress vide perversion of the course of justice in matters where he hitherto appeared as a counsel in court before becoming the Ondo State Attorney General.
He said, “The case in reference is MAK/59c/2018 between the Commissioner of Police vs. Osalusi Michael wherein Mr. Titiloye Oladipo Charles personally defended the defendant and cross-examine prosecution witness 1, which is myself on 28/9/2020.
“While he became Attorney General of Ondo State, he instructed his private office lawyer, one A .Y. Aliyu to appear for the same defendant that he, Titiloye Oladipo Charles, defended before Attorney General appointment.
“Curiously, the same Titiloye Oladipo Charles, on the same date, court, matter, proceeding equally instructed one A. A. Akinbosade, Senior Legal Officer, Ondo State Ministry of Justice to take over the magistrate court case from the police prosecutor.
“Consequent upon the unethical conduct of Titiloye Oladipo Charles in the proceedings revolving around clash of his personal and official interest, I did a complaint to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee vide my complaint dated 6/4/2021 which was assigned as suit BB/LPDC/493/2021.
“Papers have been exchanged in the complaint which is still pending to date with the LPDCC.
“As it stands, it is my humble view that the conduct of Titiloye Oladipo Charles is unbecoming of an advocate and would most likely exhibit worse conduct as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria with attendant disgrace to the legal profession.
“As we write sir, an interview or poll with every legal and non-legal officers of the Ondo State Ministry of Justice will bring the same result that the conduct of Titiloye Oladipo Charles while he held sway as Attorney General of Ondo State was inhuman and unprofessionally abusive.
“It is of note sir, that Titiloye Oladipo Charles holds the record of the only known Attorney General in the history of Nigeria to issue a query and cause an investigation of sitting Chief Judge of Ondo State, Hon. Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu that ridiculed the sanctity of the bar and bench.
“It is again of note that Titiloye Oladipo Charles holds the unenviable record of the only political office holder in Nigeria to be physically chased out of office by all legal and non-legal officers of the Ministry of Justice where he was the Attorney General.
“His official vehicle tyres were all deflated in the process while he was spirited away from the premises by police operatives as shown in a widely circulated social media platform.
“Certainly sir, such a person is not fit and proper to wear the esteemed rank of an SAN and Iso urge.”
In an open letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria on August 8, 2024, Adeyemo expressed shock and surprise at the inclusion of Titiloye in the shortlist for the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank.
Adeyemo pointed out that this decision is particularly puzzling given that his pending petition against Titiloye, filed with the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee under suit number BB/LPDC/493/2021, has yet to be resolved.
He said, “It is worrisome to note that the said petition was not considered or given the required attention and in fact, I fear that the case against Mr. Charles Titiloye pending before the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee with suit number BB/LPDC/493/2021 has now been swept under the carpet as Mr. Titiloye Oladipo Charles has now been cleared for elevation to the rank of SAN despite the grave and weighty allegation of professional misconduct pending against him at the LPDC.
“It is my candid view that in the image of the legal profession in Nigeria would be irreparably damaged and the interest of justice would not be served unless the issues raised in the pending case at the LPDC is attended to and concluded to enable Titiloye Oladipo Charles have the clean slate of eligibility to the rank of silk.
“In this circumstance, I plead for a discreet investigation of the case at hand and to allow justice to prevail for all to see.”
When reached for comment on the petition, Titiloye was evasive and uncooperative. He initially claimed ignorance, asking “What petition? Who wrote the petition?” He then abruptly ended the call, stating, “I don’t talk to people I don’t know on the phone” and hanging up without further discussion.
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