Presidential Poll: Tinubu Inaugurates 49 SANs As Legal Team
In order to defend his election in the presidential election on February 25, 2023 before the Court of Appeal sitting as the presidential election tribunal, President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday launched a team of 49 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).
At the 50-member team’s first meeting, which was conducted at the Ikoyi office of his principal attorney, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Tinubu said that the task at hand was not just about defending his election but also about preserving democracy.
According to the president-elect, the defeat suffered by the All Progressives Congress (APC) was an unthinkable outcome that was only made possible by the free and fair nature of the election. He specifically mentioned the results of Lagos and Katsina, his home state and those of President Muhammadu Buhari.
As he stated that he had worked with the majority of them over the years in the course of his own defense of democracy and democratic institutions, Tinubu expressed his entire confidence in the talents of the members of his legal team.
He expressed great confidence in the team’s capacity to use their wealth of expertise, perseverance, and knowledge to defend the wishes of the Nigerian people.
He praised them for their loyalty, generosity, and sacrifice, saying that by agreeing to follow his instructions, they not only stood in for him but also the Nigerian people, who had made their decision very plain.
For their courtesy, camaraderie, collegiality, collaboration, and unity with the people, Tinubu praised the group of senior lawyers.
In response, the main attorney, Olanipekun, accepted the president-challenge elect’s and said that given the caliber of the assembled legal counsel, it was more of a teamwork issue than a leadership one.
He pleaded with all team members to understand that the mission at hand is serious and grave, and that it must be completed by bringing all of their knowledge to bear.
In response to questions about the size of the work, he stated that because it involves the use of the legal system, the team is prepared to locate and use any legal authority, no matter where it may be concealed in the world, in order to carry out Tinubu’s instructions.
Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Mallam Yusuf Ali, Tayo Oyetibo, Chief Niyi Akintola, Chukwuma Ekomaru, Dr. Hassan Liman, Professor Dakas Dakas, Anthony Malik, and others were present at the meeting (SAN).
Also, in attendance at the meeting were Babatunde Ogala (SAN), the All Progressives Congress’ legal adviser, Ahmad El-Marzuq, Life Bencher, and Festus Keyamo (SAN).
