‘Silk looks good on you’

Friends, family, colleagues, alumni, among others, have joined Chief Richard Oma Ahonaruogho in thanksgiving on his attainment of the prestigious rank of Silk, writes ROBERT EGBE.

They came in their numbers – royalty, justices, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Olumide Akpata, top members of the Inner and Outer Bar, friends, family, alumnus and many others who have, in the course of his decades at the Bar, interacted with and in one way or another been impacted by the life of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Dr. Richard Oma Ahonaruogho.

Dressed in their formal or complete native attires, their reason was simple: to join hands with him in praising the Almighty on the conferment on him the much sought-after rank of Silk.

The event, held last December 29, began with a thanksgiving service at First Baptist Church, No. 1, Church Street, off Olowo Street, Ikeja, Lagos. It was followed by a reception at the Victory Arena, inside his alma mater, Victory High School, Abule-Onigbagbo, Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, Ikeja.

The celebrant, who also holds the title of High Chief Ogwatumise of Owo Kingdom conferred on him and his wife Mojisola in 2006 by the  late  Olowo of Owo Kingdom, Ondo State, Oba David Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi III, was one of the 72 Outer Bar men recently elevated to the Inner Bar.

The Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) called Ahonaruogho and 71 legal Practitioners’ to the Inner Bar, at its 143rd plenary session last November 13.

The successful candidates, including the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practice and other related offences Commission, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, among others, were sworn in last December 14.

The rank of SAN is awarded as a mark of excellence to members of the legal profession who have distinguished themselves as advocates and academics.

Elevating as much as 72 lawyers to the rank of SAN in one batch is record-breaking. The closest to this was when 38 lawyers were conferred with the rank in 2019.

Mr Akpata, who spoke for the Bar, harped on the necessity for and significance of the occasion.

He said: “2020 has been some kind of year. Just waking up in the morning, being alive and well is by itself a miracle. Not that that has not been the case before, but now more than ever before, we wake up every morning with extreme gratitude. But Richard is waking up, or at least from the 15th of December, Richard woke up not only alive, but as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. So, you can understand why he felt the need to specifically thank God today, because as the Bible says, at a time when there is a pulling down, for him there’s a lifting up. So, he is living out the Bible with his life.

“We, who are here with you, we’re grateful to God for his blessings on you and your family, and for his manifold blessings and I know you don’t take it for granted.

“Speaking firstly as a brother, I’m extremely proud of you and your achievements, but speaking also as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, I testify to the fact that you are a worthy member of the NBA.I testify to the fact that for the last three decades, you have been a bulwark of the association and so, it gladdens our hearts to see that the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) has found you worthy of elevation to the Inner Bar. We’re truly proud of you.”

According to him, Ahunaruogho making Silk, “gives hope, and shows that tenacity is necessary; perseverance is necessary in anything that we do. I’m not unfamiliar with your long trek to silk and everything has paid off and it is well worth it.

“Silk looks good on you sir, and we’re extremely proud of you. We’re proud of the NBA Ikeja Branch to which you belong and we’re proud of the fact that so many have come out of the branch. We pray that more Senior Advocates will emerge from the branch and I know that knowing you, you will do everything that you can to ensure that this happens.”

Akpata also noted that both he and Ahonaruogho were alumni of the University of Benin.

He added: “Just as he has been  of great support to the NBA, he has also been fully, a bulwark of support not just to the university, but also our alumni association, for which he was duly honoured not so long ago, with the doctorate of science, DSc, from UNIBEN. When you are so recognised by your peers, by people you work with.”

Ahonaruogho was the Labour Prefect of Victory High School in 1978/1979 academic session.  He later proceeded to the University of Benin (Uniben) as a student in the pioneer law class of 1981. He was the founding Vice President of the Law Students Association (LAWSA) and after graduating from Uniben was very active in the NBA, the African Bar Association and served as International Bar Association (IBA) Country Representative from Nigeria from April 2000 to March, 2006 among several other offices that he held in the legal profession, locally and globally.

Pastor Bola Oluwadamisi, Ahonaruogo’s classmate at Victory High School, gave insights into the celebrant’s life.

Speaking on behalf of Ahonaruogo’s 1978/1979 set, Oluwadamisi said: “Richard has always been a forthright person, has always been very tough. Whatsoever he believes in, he sees to it to the end and succeeds, no matter the obstacle.

“We grew up together and he has always been honest; a very dependable human being, and along the line he has cut across many of our alumni members, assisting many, being a pillar of support to many; that is why we are sharing in the joy of his elevation to the exalted position of a senior advocate of Nigeria.

“One thing that is so striking about him is he is not tribalistic.  Neither is he someone that looks down on people.  He is a wonderful mate and friend to every one of us.”

The guest list at the event held many surprises. Men and women who had made a great impact on the Ahonaruoghos were given prominence at the high table.

One of them was Mrs Nkechi Keri – the first landlord of the law firm, Richard Oma Ahonaruogho & Co, at No 10 Pepple Street, Ikeja.

She traced the Ahonaruogho’s relationship with her family to Benin.

Mrs Keri said: “My family and Richard’s have been friends even from Benin, before the war. He was like a big brother to my children. We moved to Lagos, my husband and I. He too was a lawyer. In 1988, my husband had stroke and passed on. Before he died, they had told him that his blood pressure was very high and had begun to affect his heart. He was advised to, as much as possible, cut down on going to court and arguing cases. So, he opened an office in our house at No. 10 Pepple Street, Ikeja. The house was virtually opposite Fela (Anikulapo’s) shrine.

“So, when he died and the children had all left for further education, I was the only one in the house. Friends and colleagues moved in to keep me company. Richard would also check on me. On one occasion, he said he wanted to make some references in my husband’s law office library. I handed him the key and it was a consolation for me. He later started using the office. He would use the office, go to court from there and then come to the flat to check on me and say ‘Aunty, how are you doing? Is there anything you need?’ I would say ‘All I want is for my husband to come back to life, if he can.’ Richard would say ‘Aunty, don’t worry.’

“So, for the period of time he was in that place, he was there for me and my family. He would do things for us. He helped us get over that period of grief. From then on, anything legal, whatever I wasn’t sure of, Richard would say ‘Aunty, don’t worry, I’ll handle it.’ That’s Richard for you. Even when we moved out of the place to go and live at Alaka (Surulere), he wasn’t using the office, managing the tenants: to me, he was just a big support, when everything looked hopeless. I’m not a lawyer, neither were my children. So, it was like, was that the end of it all? But Richard moved in and helped us to manage those early years of mourning. We are talking of a period of 33 years, before he got married. It was when I was at Alaka that he brought Moji and said ‘this is my girlfriend and we’re going to get married.’ I gave them my prayers. He is very kind, an exceptionally good human being. I thank God for his life and that he has come this far.”

Other guests at the event included OBA (Esq) Abdulsemiu Orimadegun Kasali, Emigoriade I the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom Ikorodu; first SAN from the University of Benin and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, Chief Charles Uwensuyi Edosomwan;  second SAN from Victory High School Victory College, Mr Adedokun Makinde; former NBA General Secretary, Mr Dele Adesina SAN; NBA General Secretary, Mrs Joyce Oduah; Chairman, Ikeja NBA Branch, Bartholomew Auguegbodo; immediate past president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mr Uche Olowu, Victory High School/Victory College Principal, Mr. Jolayemi Odeleye, among many others.