The tenure of President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Justice Babatunde Adeniran Adejumo ended on October1. In appreciation of his meritorious service, the court celebrated his retirement with events that lasted between September 24 and October 1. Eric Ikhilae reports.
It was a harvest of encomiums at the events held in Abuja in honour Justice Babatunde Adeniran Adejumo on whose judicial career. It culminated in his heading of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) for about 16 years, the curtain dropped at midnight on October 1.
From the public presentation of the book titled: “The National Industrial Court and the progressive development of Labour and Employment Law in Nigeria (a book of essays written in his honour), through the public lecture/day of tribute session, the valedictory court session and the retirement dinner, speakers were unanimous that Adejumo did not only discharge his responsibilities with utmost diligence, he had a momentous tour of duty.
They, particularly, noted Adejumo’s contributions to the transformation of the NICN, from a once obscure trade dispute tribunal, located in a dilapidated twin duplex at 20/22 Oju-Olobun Close, Ikoyi, Lagos to a superior court, now listed in the Constitution, with divisions in many states of the federation.
The speakers included President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho; senior lawyer and right activist, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), NICN’s Acting President, Justice Benedict Kanyip (who succeeded Adejumo) and former Attorney-General of Ondo State, Dele Ogendegbe.
Buhari, after inaugurating the impressive administrative building, erected beside the imposing NICN’s headquarters complex at Area 3, Abuja, told a well-packed court, during the valedictory court session, that he was pleased with Adejumo’s achievements, particularly his contributions to the growth of the NICN.
The President congratulated Adejumo on serving the country for many years, noting that his meritorious service would not be forgotten, adding: ‘‘I am confident his legacy will have a positive impact on those who follow him.”
Buhari, while stressing the importance of the NICN to the socio-economic well-being of the country, noted that its activities “directly impact Nigeria’s ease of doing business indices”.
He added: ‘‘The socio-economic impact of this court cannot be downplayed, as it also provides the platform for employees, retirees as well as dependants of deceased employees to find justice when treated unfairly.”
At the dinner, the CJN equally spoke about Adejumo in glowing terms and said, if it were possible, he would have had the honouree appointed as his assistant in view of his (Adejumo’s) capacity for excellence performance.
Muhammad said: “He is a judicial officer, in whom I am well pleased. He is trust worthy and reliable. He has advised me on many occasions. His family will have to bear with us for some more, because we may still find him useful in other capacities. If it was within my powers, I would have appointed him as my personal assistant.”
The CJN, who praised Adejumo for his contribution to the physical development of the court (NICN), noted that “he transformed the court within the best of his capacity. I can say confidently that you did your best to grow the court to the level you are now leaving it.
“I hope that the in-coming President of the court will not lower the bar. We give you kudos and pray that the God will give you longevity, peace of mind and good health. Please, take time off to attend to your family. This is not an advice. This a directive. I am directing you to take time off from today. Go away for at least 30 days
“For the in-coming President, I urge you to relate very well with your other colleagues. We have not had problem from the NICN before now,” Mohammad said.
Tsoho and Ozekhome spoke about their individual encounters with the honouree and described him as an affable, compassionate and a dependable fellow.
Ogendegbe noted that Adejumo, known in Nigerian judicial circle as the father of Labour and Employment Law in Nigeria, possesses five qualities that most African leaders do not have.
“He possesses divine wisdom and contentment; he is an extra-ordinary hard-working person, a workaholic and a humble person. When you are humble, you are likely to go far. He has love in him, he loves his neighbour more than himself,” Ogendegbe said.
When his citation was read by Justice Maureen Nkechinyereugo Esowe of the court’s Calabar division, many at the dinner were astonished at how his (the honouree’s) determination to succeed, aided by providence, propelled Adejumo, whose father died three months before he was born on October 1, 1954 and who never had the luxury of a secondary school education, to the peak of his chosen profession.
The man Adejumo
He was born in Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State on October 1, 1954 to Pa Oloniyo Adejumo and Princess Awawu Adejumo (who are now dead). While his father died three months before his birth mother died much later.
Adejumo began his education at the Catholic Mission School, Cantonment, Lokoja in Kogi State from 1960 to 1962 and later, the Muslim Primary School, Ikaram Akoko between 1962 to 1965.
He later moved to Owo, Ondo State, where he lived with a friend to his late father, Chief Magistrate Sawyer, who was in charge of the then Owo/Akoko Magisterial District. It was at Owo that he completed his Primary education at St. Patrick’s Primary school in 1966.
Adejumo relocated to Lagos in 1969 and was an apprentice shoe maker between 1969 and 1972. He returned to Owo in 1973 and started his own shoe- making business, which he managed until he was recruited into the Nigerian Prison Service as a warder cum shoemaker in 1973.
He later attended Prison‘s Training School, Ogbete in Enugu State and graduated in 1977as the best alI-round student. As a Prison Warder in Abeokuta, he wrote and passed entrance examination to Ansarudeen Teachers’ Training College, Ota, Ogun State, where he was between 1978 and 1981, during which he wrote the 0‘Level Examination and passed six subjects.
Upon the completion of his training, he was posted to Olugbo Comprehensive High School in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, where he taught three subjects – Government, Economics and Commerce.
He wrote and passed ‘A’ Level Examination in 1981 and was admitted to the Faculty of Law, University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, lle-lfe, Osun State, and graduated in 1985.
Adejumo attended the Nigerian Law School after which he was enrolled as Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1986. He was exempted from the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, because he was 30 years and six months when he graduated from Nigerian Law School.
He was a junior counsel in the law firm of J. Osuolale Ojo &C0 from 1986 to 1992, when he forayed into politics and became a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, representing Akoko North West Constituency. He was the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Fundamental Human Rights and Public Petitions.
When the military returned to power in 1993, he returned to legal practice and in November 1994, he was appointed a Chief Magistrate in the old Ondo State and was posted to lkere-Ekiti division, where he was until his appointment as Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on December, 22, 2003.
At the Supreme Court, he was Secretary to the Advisory Judicial Committee (AJC) and also Secretary to Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC). As the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, he was responsible to the Chief Justice of Nigeria for the day to day administration of the Court.
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