Adebisi Onanuga and Precious Igbonwelundu
LEGAL luminary Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) on Tuesday described the late Chief Richard Akinjide as a legal colossus.
Olanipekun, a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president like the late Akinjide, said: “Without any gainsaying, Chief Akinjide lived a full cycle, whether as a lawyer, a politician, a scholar or statesman. He made a success of every venture he embarked on.
“As a lawyer, he was prodigious, forensic, profound, dynamic, courageous and seminal.
“He was among the second set of the early lawyers in Nigeria to be conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1978, alongside the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Chief Kehinde Sofola, the late Chief G.O.K. Ajayi, among others.
“Before then, he had served as the President of the NBA during the military era. He distinguished himself as one of the most outstanding Presidents of the NBA. Between 1979 and 1983, he served as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria.
“As a statesman, Chief Akinjide stoically pursued the clamour for true federalism in Nigeria, both in his writings and speeches, while at the same time presenting himself as a father figure who cultivated friends across all divides.
“That Chief Akinjide was a scholar of very high repute is beyond any shadow of doubt. He was prolific in his writings and highly cerebral in his submissions, in and out of court.
“A titan has departed; a legal colossus and potentate has been called home; a highly distinguished statesman has gone to rest.
“May the pleasant soul of this great mentor, leader and nationalist rest in peace.”
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