The Ogun State Government is set to replace the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. Akingbolahan Adeniran who recently resigned from the cabinet of Governor Dapo Abiodun under controversial circumstances
Penpushing reports that, following the sudden development, the Governor has nominated Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade as the State’s AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice for approval by the State House of Assembly.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, in a statement on Thursday said the 48 year-old. Ogungbade, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) designate, hails from Abeokuta North Local Government.
Penpushing further reports that, the statement said he studied Law at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2000, while he is currently a Deputy Managing Partner at Afe Babalola and Co.
The statement added that he comes with vast litigation, advocacy and commercial law experience garnered over two decades with leading law firms like GOK Ajayi and Co and Ebun Adegboruwa and Co, among others.
Penpushing also reports that, Somorin said the nominee has appeared as lead counsel in over 50 appeals decided at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria and was a counsel for Nigeria at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Dispute (ICSID), adding that the Commissioner Designate will soon appear before the State House of Assembly for the statutory screening and confirmation, the statement concluded.
The immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Akingbolahan Adeniran following speculations about his sudden resignation explained that he resigned from Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration for personal reason.
Penpushing reports that, Adeniran who refused to respond to telephone calls and messages sent to him by Penpushing media after the ‘breaking news’ in the social media, that he left Abiodun’s cabinet over alleged of large scale fraud he discovered, however, denied the speculation
The former Commissioner in the statement distributed by Chief Press to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, was not affirmative on the reported reasons, but declared that, he had earlier on November 8, 2021 notified the Governor of his decision to resign purely on personal reason
‘My attention has been drawn to some online news publications purporting to provide reasons for my resignation from the Ogun State Government as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice’, he wrote.
‘While it is true that on 8 November 2021, I formally notified His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, the Governor of the State, of my decision to resign from the cabinet, I must state that contrary to the online news publications, my reasons for resigning are purely personal’, he added.
Penpushing further reports that, the former attorney general in the statement was highlighting what he did as the commissioner under the administration of Abiodun, stressing that this include improved accessibility to justice among others
‘I am not aware of any “massive corruption” in the Administration and I am indeed very proud of what we have been able to achieve in the administration of justice over the past two years, including: Improved accessibility of justice for the average citizen through the Ogun Public Interest Law Partnership which matches indigent clients with pro bono lawyers; Protection of the rights of suspects in detention through regular inspections by duty solicitors engaged under the Police Duty Solicitor Scheme’;
‘Use of technology to monitor the plight of pre-trial detainees with the Corrections Information Management System and Justice Clock; Gradual introduction of forensics into policing; Introduction of the Case Management and Scheduling System in conjunction with the Ogun State Judiciary; And many other reform initiatives in the justice sector.
‘I want to assure His Excellency, the Governor and all my colleagues in the Executive Council of the State of my continued support. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with such an amazing group of administrators, technocrats and experts in various fields of endeavour. I have learnt a lot from you all and pray that God will continue to use you to improve on the lives of the good people of Ogun State’,Adeniran added.
Penpushing also reports that., efforts to reach the Chief of Staff to the Governor and Secretary to the Governor, as well as Commissioner for Information and Strategy to get their reactions proved abortive as the trio refused to respond to telephone calls and messages put across to them
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