This was announced on Tuesday in Lagos by the state commissioner for transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde.

The State Government Took The Decision As A Move To Ease The Cash Crunch On Its Citizens As A Result Of The Central Bank of Nigeria’s Naira Redesign Policy, He Added, Noting That The Exercise Commenced Last Saturday And Is Currently Continuing.

The commissioner stated that fines would be dropped and vehicles seized for minor traffic infractions would be released to their owners.

He said, “There are some people that committed offenses during that period and we understand the fact that money wasn’t easy to come by.

“Looking at the governor’s magnanimity, the governor has deemed it fit to ensure that people who committed crimes within that period and wanted to pay or couldn’t pay as a result of the shortage of cash, should come and pick up their cars and he has waved the fines.

“Mind you, that does not include major crimes committed. These are just minor traffic offenses that have been committed in Lagos and this is showing empathy and trying to understand that look, we understand how difficult it has been and it is not a reason for us to stop you from making ends meet and so hence the governor’s magnanimity.

All those who have committed a crime within that period should come and pick up their cars, that doesn’t mean people should continue to offend and so right now, what we are doing is to caution them not to commit the offense again.”

Recall that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had introduced palliative measures to cushion the effect of the naira redesign policy on residents in the state by slashing the BRT fares by 50 percent.

The commissioner further stated, “When you look at what the governor proposed, especially during the cash crunch period, we have reduced public transport fares by 50 percent. So when you go on our BRTs and all the Lagos state-funded public transport, including Lag Ride, we have reduced the fare by 50 percent just to alleviate the suffering of our people.

“Apart from that, moving away from transport, we have opened up food banks in certain areas. So we’re beginning to give out palliative just to ensure that people get through this cash crunch period.

“We’re happy that APC has won at the national level and we are beginning to see some of these policies being reversed.

“So we’re hoping that in a short time, life would return to normal.”

The Body of Benchers is the highest legal body in the Nigerian Legal Profession, made of the Supreme Court Judges, presiding Justices of the Court of Appeal, and Chief Judges of the State High Court.

According to a statement from, Cornel Osigwe, Head of Corporate Communications, IVM Innoson Group, in a motion on notice filed in the court by the Counsel to Innoson, Prof J.N. Mbadugha SAN of McCarthy Mbadugha & Co praying for an order of the Honorable Court to disqualify Chief Olanipekun, SAN in his capacity as a legal practitioner or counsel from signing, filing, instituting or prosecuting Appeal No. CA/E/288/2013 between Guaranty Trust Bank PLC vs Innoson Nigeria Limited.

“More so the counsel to Innoson further sought the prayers of the court for an order setting aside all processes signed and filled by chief Wole Olanipekun SAN as Counsel/Legal Practitioner of or to GTB Plc on the same appeal on the grounds that the processes are incompetent.

“Lastly, an order striking out GTB Motion on Notice, dated 26 October 2018 prepared by Chief Wole Planipekun, SAN for want of competence, he also signed an amended notice of appeal.

The grounds upon which the motion is brought are:

1. Wole Olanipekun & Co in its email published that:
a. its “Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN is currently the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, which is the highest ruling body in the Nigerian Legal Profession made up of the Supreme Court Judges, presiding Justices of the Court of Appeal and Chief Judges of the State High Court. In other words, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN OFR, is the head of the entire legal profession in Nigeria”;
b. Presence of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN in the matter will significantly switch things in favor of the party that engaged him in the matter.

2. Appearance or continued appearances of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN in this matter will jeopardize or imperil the integrity of this Honorable Court.

3. The appearance or continued appearance of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN in this matter will compromise the integrity of the court or give the impression that the court is compromised and that no justice will be done by the court.

4. The involvement of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN in this Appeal for GTB will create an appearance of impropriety or such a fashion that will imperil the Court’s- Court of Appeal- status of legitimacy to enable the legitimacy of the court- court of Appeal- need to be maintained.

Recall that GTBank stole the sum of N560 Million from Innoson’s account. This resulted in Innoson commencing suit No. FHC/AWK/139/2012 against GTBank at the Federal High Court, Awka.

The court rendered judgment in favor of Innoson on 16th May 2013 in the sum of N4.7 billion with a 22% interest rate until it is fully paid.

GTBank appealed against the judgment in Appeal No: CA/E/288/2013 at the Court of Appeal Enugu Division.

On 9th December 2014, the Court of Appeal made an order that GTBank pays the judgment debt which then stood at about N6Billion to the Deputy Registrar of the Court for onward payment into an interest-yielding account.

Chief Wole Olanipekun is the Counsel to GTB in this appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Interestingly, in an email sent on 20th June 2022 to SAIPEM SPA by Wole Olanipekun & Co, the author of the email stated that “It will also reveal that the presence of our lead partner, Chief Olanipekun SAN, OFR, in the matter will significantly switch things in favor of SAIPEM. Chief Olanipekun SAN, OFR is currently the Chairman of the Body of Benchers which is the highest legal body in the Nigerian Legal Profession, made of the Supreme Court Judges, presiding Justices of the Court of Appeal, and Chief Judges of the State High Courts, including the Rivers State High Court.

In order words, Chief Olanipekun SAN OFR is the head of the entire legal profession in Nigeria.

Wole Olanipekun & Co. has also helped other multinationals, such as in the famous cases of MTN tax dispute, Shell Petroleum, Equinor (former Statoil) dispute, etc., avoid huge payouts in more complexes, sensitive and highly-political matters”.

The statement added that the boastful claim made to SAIPEM SPA by Wole Olanipekun & Co has generated a huge outcry and condemnation and made headlines in several media and this has propelled the Chairman/CEO of Innoson Vehicles to approach the Court to pray for an order of the Honorable Court to disqualify Chief Olanipekun, SAN in his capacity as a legal practitioner or counsel to GTB.