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Tag: G.O.K. Ajayi

  • G.O.K. Ajayi: 1931-2014

    G.O.K. Ajayi: 1931-2014

    •A legal titan departs
    Every now and then, a society is fortunate to witness in full blossom a person who comes to define the noblest aspirations of his age. Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi, SAN, who passed on last week, can be said to be such a man.

    Fondly known as “GOK”, after his initials, Chief Ajayi was the epitome of the progressive lawyer: the professional who consciously utilised his talents in furtherance of societal interests, rather than in the accumulation of personal wealth. The cases he has handled read like a litany of crucial points in Nigeria’s political history: the outcome of the 1979 and 1993 presidential elections, and a host of human-rights issues including the infamous Shugaba “deportation” case, the Zangon-Kataf civil disturbances and the regular defence of late legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

    Chief Ajayi was born in Ijebu-Ode in 1931, and was educated at St. Saviour’s School and CMS Grammar School, both in Lagos. He proceeded to the United Kingdom for legal studies, and was called to the English bar in 1955 and its Nigerian counterpart two years later. Such was the distinction of the legal career that he had embarked upon that 21 years after being called to the Nigerian bar, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1978. His was the second set to ever take silk, and included outstanding legal minds like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief R.A Fani-Kayode, T.A Bankole Oki, Chief Kehinde Sofola, Chief Olisa Chukura, Dr Mudiaga Odje, Chief Richard Akinjide, P.O Balonwu, and Professor Ben Nwabueze.

    As a lawyer, Chief Ajayi was renowned for the thoroughness of his preparations, the comprehensiveness of his presentations and the depth of his research. It is not surprising that he was in great demand not only as a lawyer, but as a lecturer at the Nigerian Law School.

    In an era when the law profession was synonymous with elitist pretensions and social snobbery, GOK Ajayi stood out for his quiet but determined social activism. He took many cases without payment, giving them as much attention as those that were paid for.

    This activist bent was seen in his involvement in partisan politics. As principal legal counsel to the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) he spearheaded the titanic legal battle against the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Such was the ferociousness of his legal acumen that the Supreme Court was compelled to declare that the infamous “twelve two-thirds” judgment by which President Shehu Shagari secured victory could not be used as a legal precedent.

    Chief Ajayi’s resolute commitment to justice met with greater success in the case of Alhaji Abdulraham Shugaba Darman, the majority leader in the Borno State House of Assembly during the Second Republic. Alhaji Shugaba had been declared an alien and deported overnight by the NPN-led Federal Government. Chief Ajayi took on the might of the Shagari administration and got the courts to restore his citizenship and pay costs amounting to N350,000. It was irrelevant that Shugaba belonged to the defunct Great Nigeria Peoples’ Party (GNPP), not the UPN. For Chief Ajayi, party affiliation was irrelevant; what mattered was the triumph of justice, equity and fair play.

    During the military interregnum, with its ouster clauses and tribunals, Chief Ajayi’s legal acumen and uncommon courage shone as brightly as ever. When ex-Major-General Zamani Lekwot was brought before Zangon-Kataf Civil Disturbances Special Tribunal in 1992, it was clear that the Babangida regime wanted nothing less than the general’s life for daring to challenge the political orthodoxies of the state. In spite of the overwhelming odds pitted against him, Chief Ajayi ensured that General Lekwot escaped the hangman’s noose.

    Chief G.O.K. Ajayi was a lawyer’s lawyer, a man whose towering stature was merely the outward manifestation of unimpeachable integrity, formidable intellect and unwavering courage. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

     

     

  • Comment

    For Olatunji Dare

    The passing away of the legal icon G.O.K. Ajayi will be deeply mourned. By his loyalty, commitment, consistency, deep knowledge and refinement, he brought much dignity to his profession and race – the Yoruba! May his great soul rest in peace. Amen. From J. O. Omotosho.

    Every kobo pumped into agriculture is merely cosmetic. We feel nothing at the grassroots; it’s just an Abuja stuff. Anonymous.

    I think we should change our attitudes and believe the best for this country. Our attitude makes most government policies dead on arrival. Dr Adesina is a seasoned technocrat and so far he has the magic wand to transform the sector; let’s be optimistic for once. From Nonye.

    Dr Dare, I hate to confess, your predictions always come true. Please, did you find out that cassava bread was the main menu served the VIP Centenary Guests? From Tolu Mak.

    The Minister of Agriculture, like most so-called Diaspora, is full of bullshit. We have seen political rice, political cassava and now political wheat. Let them face what we have comparative advantage in. We still import beans, cows, goats etc. A visit to northern boarders will confirm this. Go to any major market in Abuja, it is difficult to get Ofada Rice or the so-called Ebony Rice, imported and bagged locally. The deceit should stop; the reality involves more than bow ties and theatrical gesticulation in the media. Dr Adesina is limited; he came from a foreign organisation with no specific plan for us but a systematic approach to delaying us. If government buys excess produce, the farming community will get new entrants. Why import fertilisers when all the raw materials are here. The market must be created; ban total importation of food, give a backing to the government buying the excess through legal means and funding through banks, thus, keeping public funds. We will see magic. From Cardinal O C Arogundade.

    Re-”The making of a boondoggle.” Whether or not the 1992 trial of a similar project failed, I think continuous trial on the same project is what Nigeria needs. One day, we’ll attain the required agricultural development. When you look at Minister Adeshina, the zeal, the focus and achievement target were always visibly written on his face. The earlier we give encouragement to serious minister(s), the better. Let us put them right by making growth suggestions. Succeeding in wheat production will be an agricultural enabler for Nigeria. From Lanre Oseni.

    When they want to deceive us, they cook up all this jazz! They know where the money is going. But I can assure only five per cent will get to farmers – with some luck. Trust me. From Anonymous.

    Dare, your peice is a naked fact. Would they realise this fact? And save us from another waste of resources. From Sam Okoronkwo.

    Dare, let me commend the repeat of your 1992 article in The Guardian on an unachieved dream of wheat production by Ibrahim Babangida’s military regime. We need such publications to help present leaders on why and how such projects failed at their first trials. Now you have provided the current minister with valueable information that would assist him in achieving the government’s objective. Let us assume that IBB’s programme failure was caused by his not having anything to lose because of his military status, your information have put the Minister of Agriculture, Adesina, on the spot. Nigerians watching how he would handle the programme henceforth. It is my hope that other media men who have such information, on past governments’ bungled projects that are being bandied by present governments, would borrow a leaf from “THE MAKING OF A BOONDOGGLE”. This is a proactive approach to bailing out Nigeria. From Lai Ashadele.

     

    For Gbenga Omotoso

    “A guide to dream jobs in Nigeria.” The truth and nothing but the truth in contemporary Nigeria. It is all fun reading your piece. However what is not funny is the fact that our attitude as Nigerians is the same. Can I apply for a job in any of your supposed decent states or party and get the job without knowing one big guy? From Kedi.

    Mr Gbenga, your piece was rib cracking. Thanks for making my day. From Henry Ekpe, Owerri, Imo State.

    I join you in blessing God who gives you the brain and wisdom. Your “A guide to dream jobs,” is instructive, witty, entertaining, a classical sword in the heart of conscienceless power mongers. Keep the flag flying. From Tayo.

    Re: “A guide to dream jobs”. I’m not surprised because, it can only come from a writer of your pedigree. The death of job seekers at the Immigration interview has given rise to a popular but funny cliche in our lexicon. It is called, Death for jobs. My worry about this cliche is: what wrong did President Jonathan do, in providing jobs for the next of kin of dead and injured job seekers? Would it have been better if he just consoled the living victims and the dead next of kin, and moved on like that. No. Good conscience demands that he provides a compensatory reward for the living victims, the dead and their relations. Human error cannot completely be wished away in human existence. Rather, its occurence or frequency should be minimised. When it occurs, any effort or gestures, aimed at soothing the effect of the calamity should be praised and not scorned!. Thank you. From Chukwuma Dioka.

    In his column, “Editorial Notebook”, in The Nation of Thursday, April 3, 2014 (back page) the editor of the paper, Gbenga Omotoso, wrote on how to resolve the unemployment crisis in Nigeria, under the title “A guide to dream jobs”. Anybody who thinks the article would assist him/her to get a job would be disappointed as the first part of the paper talked about how politicians and those looking for plum jobs in the government try to use all sorts of tricks to convince or deceive, through clever lobbying of government officials to land deserved or undeserved jobs. It was full of sarcasm that one could not help thinking and laughing at the same time – a possibility; since one could think and laugh, just as one could laugh and think, simultaneously. Anonymous.

    What I found the most intriguing is the second part which could easily be sub-titled “Death-For-Job”, as contained in the very last sentence of the piece. The writer said “many countries, including the industrial giants, who seem to have stopped thinking, I have just been told, are set to emulate what has been scorned here as “death-for-job”. This comment is one of the fallouts of the Immigration job debacle. Although you may not believe it, what this writer is saying, rather paradoxically, is that you must die in order to get a job! If you died as a result of the carelessness, stupidity and greed of officials who had invited you to a stadium or coliseum for a job examination, that job is already yours in triplicate after your death although you are no longer there to take it. The job, which is given to you posthumously, would be transferred to three members of your siblings or relatives. So, if you want to get three jobs in a fell-swoop, you must be ready to die while looking for a job, and your death would be as good as getting that job in triplicate. What a way to think! That is the import of the message. Thank you, Gbenga Omotoso, for this thought-provoking piece, although it forced me to gnash my teeth. From Prof Moses Akinola Makinde, FNAL, Ile-Ife.

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

    Re: “Meet the common man at Tinubu’s birthday”. Congratulations to Tinubu at 62. May he live longer in peace, progress and successes (Ameen). He was a man of the people between 1994 and 1999 during Nigeria’s political logjam and political turbulence. To me, he loved common men. After his eight-year rule between 1999 and 2007 in Lagos, one expected him to deepen his love for the common man by picking any common man to become a senator. That way, the gap between the rich and the poor would be narrowing, if that was repeated by him and other powers in 15 succeeding regimes. Happy birthday to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and many happy returns (Ameen). From Lanre Oseni

    Dear Tunji, the BAT Colloquium is for the common man. Is President Jonathan a common man? The Holy Book says ‘don’t look for the ‘living’ among the ‘dead’ ! From Chukwuma Dioka, Owerri, Imo State.

    Even if the president was invited, he would have dodged the invitation because, if asked by journalists about the state of the nation, he would have mentioned his failed transformation agenda. If the president had gone to Asiwaju’s birthday and had seen the common man, he would have remembered his past and that would have been enough to make him sit right. As you said, let him obtain a copy of the video recording and watch in his office at Aso Rock and address the nation. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

    I am not a politician but you must be pig-headed to expect President Jonathan to attend Tinubu’s birthday. The APC who paid you to write will not perform up to PDP standard. Disappointed fan, Ebonyi State.

    It is good we celebrate achievers, irrespective of party affiliation. I wished some government officials attended the birthday and heard the plight of citizens; they believe all is well in Nigeria. Bola Tinubu should be associated with over his doggedness in politics and other sectors. He deserves the encomiums. From Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

    I just read your article on Tinubu’s birthday colloquium. Very nice piece. However, in the third column, as against ‘life’ in relation to President Jonathan’s absence, it ought to be ‘live’ as in live broadcast. All the best! From Ejiro, Jos.

    Some of you folks in The Nation should not take Nigerians for a ride. So, you expected the president to attend Tinubu’s birthday party? Does your conscience tell you that you are honest or doing a paid job? From Ene.

  • Mark, Tinubu, Akeredolu, Oyebode eulogise GOK Ajayi

    Mark, Tinubu, Akeredolu, Oyebode eulogise GOK Ajayi

    Eminent Nigerians have continued to pay tributes to Chief G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN), who died last weekend in Lagos.

    They described him as an embodiment of “discipline and finesse”.

    Senate President David Mark yesterday sent his condolences to the Ogun State government.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Mark said the late Ajayi was not just a legal giant but one of those at the forefront of the struggle for the enthronement of democracy and emancipation of Nigerians.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu described the late Ajayi as “an inspiration” and “one of the leading lights of the judiciary”.

    In his condolence message, Tinubu said: “The late Ajayi stood for justice and had a sterling professional career. He enriched our judiciary and served Nigeria well.”

    He said Nigeria has, once again, been robbed by death of the knowledge of a great mind, adding that the late Ajayi was a courageous jurist, who upheld the law and used it to secure democracy.

    Tinubu said: “Though saddened by his departure, we are comforted by the knowledge that he lived a fulfilled life and impacted on many lives. He was an inspiration at the bar and in public life.”

    Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and Professor of law Akin Oyebode said the late Ajayi, fondly called “gentleman G.O.K.”, was a quintessential lawyer of impeccable pedigree.

    They described his demise as a monumental loss.

    Oyebode said the late Ajayi exuded a methodical advocacy, superb intellect and dogged commitment to excellence, “the like of which is uncommon in our environment”.

    Akeredolu said since Ajayi’s death, many people have talked about his dogged, principled and unwavering commitment to the fight for an egalitarian society, where no man is oppressed.

    He said: “G.O.K., as he was fondly called by his admirers and those who knew him, was an advocate indeed. He was debonair, unobtrusive, resilient, principled, courageous and decent. He was a man in whose presence one felt a sense of overwhelming and outstanding knowledge of law.

    Highlighting the deceased’s unwavering support for the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other progressives, Akeredolu said the nation’s politics has suffered retrogression from self-appointed representatives of the people.

    He accused the deceased’s contemporaries of offering themselves to highest bidding politicians, adding: “Unfortunately, some of his peers are busy seeking to rubbish the age-long principled stance of the progressive order. They are, regrettably, available to the highest bidders while masking their predilection for material acquisition, pretending that altruistic politics is possible in a society where ethno-religious bickering holds sway.

    “G.O.K. was a major advocate in the defense team of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) under the leadership of the late Awolowo until the end of the Second Republic.

    “The defense of the late Abiola, winner of the 1993 presidential election that was annulled by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida, was another index of his unwavering commitment to the progressives.

    “He was unshaken in his belief that in spite of the hostile environment, the military under the late General Sani Abacha, must be made to adhere to the rule of law. He participated, actively, through the courts, in the activities that culminated into civil rule in 1999.

    “We pray that his family would have the fortitude to bear the loss. This occasion should also call for sober reflection on the part of those who have, disappointingly, lend themselves to the destructive scheming of the current holders of ephemeral power. May G.O.K.’s resourceful soul rest in perfect peace.”

    The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ijebu-Ode branch in Ogun State, described Ajayi’s death as “a great loss to the legal profession”.

    The late Ajayi hailed from Itan-Ntebo Quarters in Ijebu-Ode.

    NBA Chairman, Ijebu-Ode chapter, Chief Biyi Odugbesan, in an interview with The Nation, said many lawyers passed through the late Ajayi, adding: “His death is a great loss to the bar and legal profession. We are going to miss him. He is a revered lawyer and has contributed to the growth of the legal profession in Nigeria.”

    Former Ijebu-Ode Local Government Chairman Giwa Mufutau Oseni said the late Ajayi was “a courageous legal practitioner who used his professional calling to advance the cause of justice and defend the oppressed”.

    Oseni said the late Ajayi handled many landmark cases that helped to shape the “bar and bench” and would be missed by the country.

     

  • Mark, Akeredolu, Oyebode, others eulogise Ajayi

    Mark, Akeredolu, Oyebode, others eulogise Ajayi

    Eminent Nigerians have continued to pay tributes to Chief G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN), who died at the weekend in Lagos.

    They described him as an embodiment of “discipline and finesse”.

    Senate President David Mark yesterday sent his condolences to the Ogun State government.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Mark said the late Ajayi was not just a legal giant but one of those at the forefront of the struggle for the enthronement of democracy and emancipation of Nigerians.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu described the late Ajayi as “an inspiration” and “one of the leading lights of the judiciary”.

    In his condolence message, Tinubu said: “He stood for justice and had a sterling professional career. He enriched our judiciary and served Nigeria well.”

    He said Nigeria has, once again, been robbed by death of the knowledge of a great mind, adding that the late Aj

    He praised his brilliance and said he belonged to the tribe of courageous jurists who upheld the law and used the law to help secure democracy.

    Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and Professor of law Akin Oyebode said the late Ajayi, fondly called “gentleman G.O.K.”, was a quintessential lawyer of impeccable pedigree.

    They described his demise as a monumental loss.

    Oyebode said the late Ajayi exuded a methodical advocacy, superb intellect and dogged commitment to excellence, “the like of which is uncommon in our environment”.

    Akeredolu said since Ajayi’s death, many people have talked about his dogged, principled and unwavering commitment to the fight for an egalitarian society, where no man is oppressed.

    He said: “G.O.K., as he was fondly called by his admirers and those who knew him, was an advocate indeed. He was debonair, unobtrusive, resilient, principled, courageous and decent. He was a man in whose presence one felt a sense of overwhelming and outstanding knowledge of law.

    “He understood human nature as venal, vile and wicked. He quietly, but resolutely, pitched his tent with the oppressed. From the First Republic when politics became an instrument of repression to the Second Republic when being in the opposition translated to losing everything, including one’s rights to citizenship and the very breath that sustained life, this man chose to defend the truth and justice.

    “He was not the type who courted the limelight. He believed in anonymity in the course of defending the downtrodden.”

    Highlighting the deceased’s unwavering support for the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other progressives, Akeredolu said the nation’s politics has suffered retrogression from self-appointed representatives of the people.

    He accused the deceased’s contemporaries of offering themselves to highest bidding politicians, adding: “Unfortunately, some of his peers are busy seeking to rubbish the age-long principled stance of the progressive order. They are, regrettably, available to the highest bidders while masking their predilection for material acquisition, pretending that altruistic politics is possible in a society where ethno-religious bickering holds sway.

    “G.O.K. was a major advocate in the defense team of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) under the leadership of the late Awolowo until the end of the Second Republic.

    “The defense of the late Abiola, winner of the 1993 presidential election that was annulled by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida, was another index of his unwavering commitment to the progressives.

    “He was unshaken in his belief that in spite of the hostile environment, the military under the late General Sani Abacha, must be made to adhere to the rule of law. He participated, actively, through the courts, in the activities that culminated into civil rule in 1999.

    “The case of Alhaji Abdulrahaman Shugaba, the majority leader in the Borno State House of Assembly, who was deported to Chad by the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) government under the leadership of Shagari is instructive. The learned SAN defended the man who was wrongly deported and got him back to Nigeria.

    “Our country faces serious challenges of nationhood. The departure of a man of sterling qualities, such as G.O.K., should be considered a monumental loss. He chose a critical time in our itinerary towards nationhood to depart.

    “We pray that his family would have the fortitude to bear the loss. This occasion should also call for sober reflection on the part of those who have, disappointingly, lend themselves to the destructive scheming of the current holders of ephemeral power. May G.O.K.’s resourceful soul rest in perfect peace.”

    The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ijebu-Ode branch in Ogun State, described Ajayi’s death as “a great loss to the legal profession”.

    The late Ajayi hailed from Itan-Ntebo Quarters in Ijebu-Ode.

    NBA Chairman, Ijebu-Ode chapter, Chief Biyi Odugbesan, in an interview with The Nation, said many lawyers passed through the late Ajayi, adding: “His death is a great loss to the bar and legal profession. We are going to miss him. He is a revered lawyer and has contributed to the growth of the legal profession in Nigeria.”

    Former Ijebu-Ode Local Government Chairman Giwa Mufutau Oseni said the late Ajayi was “a courageous legal practitioner who used his professional calling to advance the cause of justice and defend the oppressed”.

    Oseni said the late Ajayi handled many landmark cases that helped to shape the “bar and bench” and would be missed by the country.

     

  • G.O.K. Ajayi may be buried May 29

    G.O.K. Ajayi may be buried May 29

    •Jonathan, Tambuwal, governors extol his virtues

     

    The remains of legal icon, Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole (G.O.K.) Ajayi (SAN), who died last weekend, may be buried on May 29 in his home town, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

    He would have been 83 on that day.

    Family sources said yesterday that Ajayi instructed his eldest daughter, Tola, on how he wanted to be buried. She was said to have flown into the country from Canada, following her father’s death.

    Ajayi’s burial site could not be confirmed yesterday, whether it would be the Anglican Communion Church cemetery or his house at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ijebu Ode.

    The deceased’s ancestral home is at Itantebo quarters in Ijebu Ode.

    Sources, said yesterday, at his home in Surulere, Lagos that Ajayi was taken to three hospitals between January 25, when he became ill and March 29, when he died.

    They said while in the hospitals, he read law books, which he sent his aides to bring either from his library at home or from his office.

    Mr. Kehinde Okuneye, who spoke on behalf of the family, said they were meeting and making arrangements on how to give him a befitting funeral.

    He said Ajayi was a senior member of the Anglican Communion and that he served the primate of the church several times as the registrar.

    His widow, Mrs. Margret Olayinka Ajayi, said her friend and companion was gone.

    Mrs. Ajayi, who spoke through one of her relations, Mrs. Mojoyin Adetona-Thomas, said they were married for 52 years.

    She described the late senior advocate as her best friend, companion, brother and husband.

    Mrs. Ajayi said she would miss him for his companionship and friendship.

    President Goodluck Jonathan, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Senate Leader Ndoma Egba and others yesterday eulogised the late Ajayi.

    Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, extended condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and associates, and to Nigerians, whose cause and rights he defended.

    The President urged them to “be consoled that the deceased lived a fulfilled life and would even in death, continue to serve as a model of dedication to truth, equity and justice.”

    Tambuwal, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Imam Imam, said Ajayi was a disciplinarian, whose work would be cherished for a long time.

    He described his death as a huge loss to the legal profession in particular and the nation in general.

    Tambuwal said: “GOK Ajayi was an advocate’s advocate and a legal titan. Although he made his name as a lawyer, his charisma, brilliance and philanthropy stood him out as a humanist, who used his deep knowledge of the law to better the society.”

    The Speaker prayed God to give his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Fayemi described the demise of Ajayi as the end of a chapter, which shaped the legal profession.

    The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said Ajayi’s place in the annals of the evolution of democracy was eternally-secured.

    Describing the octogenarian as a fearless lawyer and the people’s advocate, Fayemi said he chose to stay on the side of the people by defending the mandate given to the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola in the court at the risk of his life.

    He noted that Ajayi was an inspiration to Abiola and other pro-democracy activists in the struggle to re- validate the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election widely acknowledged as the freest and fairest in the nation’s history.

    Amosun recalled the roles Ajayi played in high profile cases.

    “I remember the controversial issue of 12 2/3 in the Awolowo vs Shagari case over the 1979 Presidential Election, the Abdul Rahman Shugaba vs Minister of Internal Affairs suit and the legal battle of the late Chief Abiola, following the annulment of the June 12 election, among others, which are still reference points till today.”

    The Ogun governor said he joined members of the bar and the bench and other Nigerians to mourn the passing of “this last colossus of first generation of Nigerian lawyers.”

    “He was a progressive lawyer and that explained his closeness to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. His death is a great loss to the legal community,” he said.

    Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) described the death of Ajayi as the “end of a great legal titan.”

    Said he: “The late Ajayi was a great legal mind; a titan of the profession in every sense. His grasp of ‘The Law of Evidence’ was legendary. He was a fine gentleman.”