Tag: Justin Olabode Emanuel

• By Bashorun J.K. Randle

Death is a debt.  With the demise of Chief Justin Olabode Emanuel on Saturday, 4th January 2025 the prayers that came to mind were:

 “I believe in the Holy Ghost:  The holy Catholic Church.  The Communion of Saints:  The Forgiveness of sins:  The Resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting.  Amen.”

After several postponements of the funeral arrangements, the final hour was at10 am on Friday 21st February 2025 at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Catholic Mission Street, Lagos.

While he laid in state, he was decked out in his tuxedo with the regalia and medals that reflected his rank within the CFS (Catholic Fellowship Society).

The irony of it all was in plain sight.  His darkest hour was also his finest as he bade the world farewell.  The penny had dropped.  Everything had been settled.   Is there a life after death or is that the end?  Finito.  Or is it the beginning of another cycle?  In any case, the judgement had been delivered by the Almighty.  I caught a last glimpse of the Chief.  He was resigned to his faith and his fate.  Not a wince.  He strode forward without a backward glance.  He is not dead.  We are the ones left with the deadly burden of poverty, ignorance, insurgency, inflation, darkness etc.  He was buried as a Catholic but his mother Alhaja Nusiratu Amope Shonibare was a devout moslem.  She died in 1992 and her son ensured she was given a befitting burial.  The grand reception afterwards was at City Hall, Catholic Mission Street, Lagos.

Also, when in 2007, Ansarudeen College, Isolo; Ansarudeen College, Randle Road, Surulere and Ansarudeen Girls College, Surulere launched an Appeal Fund, the Chairman of the occasion was Alhaji Femi Okunnu S.A.N.  The venue was Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos.  The entire hall was stunned when the highest donation N10,000,000 (ten million naira) was announced.  It was from Chief Olabode Emanuel.  Alhaji Okunnu donated N7,500,000 (seven million five hundred thousand naira).  The total raised was a staggering N120,000,000 (one hundred and twenty million naira).

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From the avalanche of tributes paid to Chief Olabode Emanuel, it is easy to discern the recurring decimals:

• business acumen

• integrity

• generosity

• resilience.

From the “Trustees’ Friday Night” table at the Lagos Motor Boat Club the roll call of mourners has Prince Olu Awogboro; Professor Theo Ogunbiyi; Dr. Charles Hammond; Chief Kola Jamodu; Chief Raymond Ihembe; Dr. Arinze Agbim; Chief Kehinde Smith; Chief Yomi Edu; Chief Bintan Famutimi and Sir Steve Omojafor.  We lost Deji Akintilo three years ago.

For almost two decades, we would insist on teasing Chief Justin Olabode Emanuel (ex-St. Gregory’s College, Obalende) by proposing a toast “Up Greg’s” and proceed to spend the rest of the evening slagging off St. Gregory’s College.  He would insist with remarkable vigour that the real culprit for ruining Nigeria were the  “KCOB’s (the old boys of King’s College, Lagos) who had been groomed for leadership but failed to grasp the nettle.  The slug feist would last till well after midnight only to resume the following Friday evening.

Every now and again His Royal Highness Oludotun Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland who was Chief Emanuel’s brother-in-law would show up with his entourage and sit at the table next to ours.  If he felt that there was a lull in the slug feist  he would deliberately remind us that two of his children – one a doctor and the other a Chartered Accountant attended King’s College and were pursuing very successful careers abroad.  That was enough to ignite matters.  We were never quite sure whether His Royal Highness was taking sides with his brother-in-law (“the Gregorian”) or King’s College (the “Floreats”).

As then Colonel ‘Dotun Gbadebo he was the Principal Staff Officer to Major-General Tunde Idiagbon who was Chief of General Staff Supreme Headquarters during the Buhari/Idiagbon military regime 31st December 1983 to August 27 1985. The Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) toppled the Buhari/Idiagbon regime. 

The last time His Royal Highness joined us at the Motor Boat Club, Lagos with his in-law still very much hale and hearty, he did not mince words.   According to him if the IBB coup had failed, I would have been roped in.  He was not joking !!  Apparently, when I as the Chairman of Eko Hotels Limited invited IBB to deliver the “Eko Hotel Gold Medal Lecture” it brought him into the public limelight.  That did not go down well with Buhari and Idiagbon.  To further compound matters, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola; Professor Jonah Elaigwu and I were the three civilians present at the Chief of Army Staff conference held in Minna, Niger State.  That was where the plans for the coup d’etat were finalised.  I had no inkling that those military guys were planning a coup. 

Chief Justin Olabode Emanuel was the archetypal “jolly good fellow” but he fought epic legal battles against some of our mutual friends such as Asiwaju Alex-Duduyemi; late Chief Bode Akindele; late Dr. Dan Awani; late Aremo Fola Awoboh-Pearce; and late Chief Layi Ajayi-Bembe. 

There was no way I was ever going to be dragged into those disputes beyond pleading for amicable settlement.

Chief Emanuel had a great sense of humour which was typical of the part of Lagos where both of us grew up – “H” Ward which straddles a swathe of Campos Square at the centre with borders stretching right up to Amuto Street; Omididun Street; Great Bridge Street; Glover Street; Tokunbo Street; Ricca Street; Igbosere Road; Bamgbose Street; Ita Faji market; Odunfa Street; Oke Popo Street; Obadina Street.

The names of the families which occupied that space range from Agbabiaka; Akerele; Alagemo; Adu; Anibaba; Ashimi; Augusto; Abayomi; Afolabi; Akesode; and J.K. Randle to Makanjuola; Shittu; Berkerley; Coker; Okunowo; Carena; Sanwo-Olu; Oyekan; Abisogun; Oshodi; Faramobi; Smith; Reis; Soares; McGregor; Tresize; Duncan; Da Silva; Martins; Kekere-Ekun; Dawodu; Jinadu; Odumosu; Adams; Emanuel; Domingo; Oki; Danmola; Salvador; Grillo; Bickerseth; Soetan; Dabiri; Pearse; Wilson; Braithwaite; Oseni; Scott; Olukolu; Aka-Bashorun; Tinubu; Iginla; Kenku; Oshode; Gansalo; Lawrence; Lawson; Johnson; Williams; Bank-Anthony; and Ishola-Bankole.

Chief Justin Olabode Emanuel had an amazing sense of loyalty.  A case in point was his friend and schoolmate at St. Gregory’s College, Chief Festus Remilekun Ayodele Marinho who was born on December 30, 1934 and died on January 18, 2021.  He was considered to be the “Father of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas”.

He was the first and only Managing Director of the defunct Nigerian National Oil Corporation (NNOC) – the forerunner of NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation).  He was the pioneer and two-time Group Managing Director of NNPC (1977 – 1980 and 1984 – 1985).

When Chief Marinho lost his job (under the military government with immediate effect), it was Chief Justin Olabode Emanuel who ensured that a man of impeccable character and his family (wife Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Oreoluwa and five children) was not humiliated and traumatized.  He was caring and ever so generous to his childhood friend.  Both Chief Emanuel and Chief Marinho grew up on the same street – Glover Street, Lagos.  This was Chief Emanuel at his stellar best.

For some curious reasons, Chief Emanuel was very disdainful of the NESG (Nigerian Economic Summit Group).  What was even stranger was that his bosom friend Chief Ernest Shonekan was the brain behind NESG.  He was privy to the fact that NESG was actually my idea borne out of my experience in the United States of America where one of our Partners at KPMG had, out of patriotism, become an adviser on economic and financial matters to the President of America.  His main focus was to ensure dialogue between the President of America and the captains of industry and commerce.  I felt it could be replicated in Nigeria.  Shortly after  my return to Nigeria, I was a guest at a cocktail party hosted by the then British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Sir Mervyn Brown.  I mooted the idea and the High Commissioner immediately dragged me over to where Chief Shonekan was so we could brief him.  There and then Chief Shonekan who was then the Chairman of Nigeria’s largest conglomerate – U.A.C. of Nigeria Plc, bought the idea.  The rest is history.

Chief Emanuel really had it in for old boys of King’s College, Lagos (KCOB’s).  He would often remind me that when cash was being freely shared as bribes within the hallowed halls of the National Assembly, the KCOB’s did not refuse to participate or even protest by walking out.

Again, when on April 22, 1990, Colonel Orkar in his ill-fated coup d’etat announced the existion of some of the Northern States – Sokoto, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Taraba, Yobe from Nigeria, he took a swing at KCOB’s  for not protesting that King’s College had students from all over Nigeria – hence, the country must remain one.  It was difficult to fathom whether he spoke in earnest or in jest – just to needle the old boys of King’s College.

Perhaps I should add that Chief Emanuel could be unpredictable.  I remember when I contested the gubernatorial election of Lagos State in 2011 on the platform of SDP (Social Democratic Party) with Mrs. Gbemi Kufeji who was his sister as my running mate, he bluntly refused to contribute a dime to my campaign fund.

Even more amazing was that during the crisis over my chairmanship of MUSON (Musical Society of Nigeria), Chief Emanuel was very much in the opposite camp !!  At the EGM (Extra-ordinary General Meeting) of the association, he moved the motion for my removal.

It was an unforgettable experience.  I simply glossed over it and made sure it did not damage our relationship.

Perhaps I should add that when I retired as Chairman and Chief Executive of KPMG in 2004 after thirty-four years in the firm, I set up my own firm – J.K. Randle & Co. Chartered Accountants.  I was cock sure that Chief Emanuel would patronize my firm.  I did not get a single introduction/recommendation to any of the thirty-odd companies where he was the Chairman or Director.  On the contrary, he gave assignments to my detractors.  It was a wake-up call for me.  I had no right to claim entitlement.  Fortunately, my firm and its associated companies have weathered the storms and prospered regardless of formidable challenges and unsolicited adversities.  Truly, the Almighty has been faithful and steadfast.

By J.K. Randle

It must be about 40 years ago when I found myself seated next to Chief Justin Olabode Emanuel at a dinner at the Good Earth (Chinese) Restaurant at 233 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London.  The heavyweights around the table were Chief Sobo Sowemimo S.A.N.; Alhaji Femi Okunnu S.A.N.; Dr. Bolaji Ajenifuja; Professor Bolaji Kuti; Alhaji Alade Idris Animashaun; Professor Theo Ogunbiyi; Chief Akin Disu  and several others.  Perhaps it was inevitable that discussions would centre on the widely publicized BBC Panorama programme on Nigeria which was broadcast on the previous day.  The trailer cut straight to the marrow:

“It’s amazing that Nigeria first had Cable lines in 1886 and telephones in 1893.  Electricity followed in 1896 and in 1898 Lagos became the second city in the world (after Munich, Germany) to have electric street lights when most cities were gas lit.  Iju Water Works has been supplying potable water in Lagos since 1910.  What went wrong ?”

Chief Emanuel provided the answer.  With a chuckle he declared: “King’s College, Lagos !!”

The Old Boys of King’s College around the table – Okunnu and Idris Animashaun protested vigorously.  However, nothing would dissuade Chief Emanuel from pinning the blame on King’s College.  Anyway, the argument went back and forth.  Chief Emanuel was adamant. He insisted that the British colonial government had founded King’s College in 1909 to groom Nigeria’s future leaders but the Old Boys had abdicated their responsibility.  According to him, the country was in ruins and the rescue mission was being dumped on St. Gregory’s College and its Old Boys.  It was all said in jest.  Hence, there was no damage inflicted on the conviviality around the table.

 Even back then, Chief Emanuel had his tentacles in many businesses.  He was already a tycoon and business mogul at the relatively young age of 50 years.  He did not suffer fools gladly.  In fact, he could be very abrasive.

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Here we are 40 years later and we are confronted with our latest scorecard and auditor’s report by “The Economist” magazine.  On January 11, it published a hefty special report entitled “THE AFRICA GAP” which according to “Private Eye” magazine identified a number of ways in which the economic gap between Africa and the rest of the world is getting wider.

 “If its fifty-four countries are to seize the opportunity they have to do something exceptional: break with their own past and with the dismal statist orthodoxy that now grips much of the world.  Africa’s leaders will have to embrace business growth and free markets.”

Back to the memorable dinner in Knightsbridge, London; it was a clear case dereliction Chief Emanuel was in his element – teasing and taunting the old boys of King’s College (Okunnu, Animashaun and me) for the decay and decadence in Nigeria.  As far as he was concerned, the old boys of King’s College (“KCOB’s) had abdicated their responsibility.

The “KCOB’s” were unanimous in defending the reputation of our alma mater.  However, the more we protested, the more adamant and vehement Chief Emanuel was.  He was having great fun at our expense.  It was all good-hearted banter anyway.  He just would not stop.  He proceeded to highlight the self-evident decay of King’s College – the pristine and elegant colonial structure had become an eyesore.  The classrooms which were meant for only 25 students had exploded beyond quadruple that number.  It was the same story with the boarding house and its dormitories.  The toilet facilities had collapsed entirely.

Chief Sowemimo (ex-C.M.S. Grammar School, Lagos) joined forces with Chief Emanuel) So also did Chief Akin Disu (also ex-C.M.S. Grammar School) to regale us with their dismay over the state of affairs in Nigeria and Lagos State in particular.  Whichever way, the old boys of King’s College were the culprits !!  It was confirmation of the old adage – many a true word is said in jest.  The humour was not lost on us the KCOB’s as we retaliated by pointing that both King’s College and St. Gregory’s College had become victims of circumstances.  The chequered history of Nigeria was well known to all of us.  Even if it is true that the British colonial government had deliberated, created King’s College, Lagos (founded in 1909) as an elite school in the image of Eton College or Harrow schools (public schools) as the incubator for Nigeria’s future leaders, the military coup of January 15 1966 had blown the mission totally off course.  Six months later there was a counter coup which threw the entire nation into turmoil.  The nation was on the verge of breaking up.  From 1966 to 1975, the leadership of Nigeria fell on the head of General Yakubu Gowon (ex-Barewa College, Zaria) who was toppled on July 29, 1975 and replaced by another old boy of Barewa College – General Murtala Muhammed who was assassinated on February 13, 1976 in Lagos.  It was a chilly Friday morning.

Incidentally, I had visited him at his house at 6, Second Avenue, Ikoyi on the day before.  That is a story for another day.  He was replaced by General Olusegun Obasanjo (ex-Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta).  On October 1, 1979, Obasanjo handed over power to Shehu Shagari (ex-Barewa College, Zaria).  The Vice-President was Dr. Alex Ekwueme (ex-King’s College, Lagos).

In between all that turmoil and turbulence was the Nigerian civil war which raged between 1967 and 1970.  It cost more than a million lives.  On the Nigerian side was the Head of State –  Yakubu Gowon while the Biafran side was led by Emeka Ojukwu (ex-King’s College, Lagos).

Of course, Chief Emanuel was quick to capitalize on a photograph which was widely circulated.  It was taken at the meeting in Kampala where the OAU (Organisation of African Union) had endeavoured to broker peace between Biafra and Nigeria in 1968.

 On the Biafran side was Sir Louis Mbanefo who was my father’s classmate at King’s College and on the Nigerian delegation were Chief Anthony Enahoro (ex-King’s College), Minister of Information, Chief Wenike Briggs (ex-King’s College, Minister of Education; Alhaji Femi Okunnu (ex-King’s College), Minister of Works; Chief Allison Ayida (ex- King’s College) Permanent Secretary; and Chief Philip Asiodu (ex-King’s College) Permanent Secretary.

It was with glee that Chief Emanuel declared that it was all a King’s College, Lagos affair.

However, here is the official report by Reuter: “Peace talks opened between Federal Nigeria and Secessionist Biafra in Kampala today (Thursday) with both sides agreeing on the need for a ceasefire in their 11-month-old civil war but differing on its timing. President Milton Obote, of Uganda, formally opened the talks in the conference Hall of the Parliament Building.  In speeches at a public opening session, the Biafrans said an immediate cessation of fighting should be the first step of peace, while the federal side said it wanted discussions first.  Then a ceasefire.  Observers in the Uganda Parliament’s Conference Hall, where the meeting started, noted that while the two sides were strong in condemnation of each other, they appeared to be leaving room for compromise. 

The two sides came to Kampala after preliminary talks in London, and the meeting is under the auspices of the commonwealth secretariat, led by the Secretary-General, Mr. Arnold Smith, of Canada.  Both the federal side and the Biafrans are represented by five-man delegations and are accompanied by observers.  Chief Anthony Enahoro, Commissioner for Information in the Lagos Government, leads the Federal Delegation, while the main Biafran spokesman is Chief Justice and Former World Court Judge, Sir Louis Mbanefo (ex-King’s College)”.

It was uncanny how deferential Chief Emanuel was to Chief Sobo Sowemimo, S.A.N., the Jaguna of Egbaland.  The chemistry between them was palpable and self-evident.  It was Chief Emanuel who whispered to me that Chief Sowemimo was actually the friend of his elder brother, Dr. Abosede Emanuel.  However, the Jaguna of Egbaland was his benefactor.  Jaguna had grown up in Kano.  Hence, he spoke Hausa language fluently and his network of Hausa speaking northerners  was instrumental to Chief Emanuel’s highly lucrative business contacts with the likes of General Murtala Mohammed; General T.Y. Danjuma; Alhaji Ibrahim Damcida; Alhaji  Ahmed Joda; Senator Mahmoud Waziri, etc.

It was well after midnight before we left the Chinese restaurant.  We had been so thoroughly engrossed in dissecting the problems of Lagos; the fate of Nigeria, and the future of democracy in Africa that we did not notice that the restaurant had closed!!  All the staff had gone home.

Chief Justin Olabode Emanuel and I were the last to leave.  We were neighbours in Chelsea.  All the same he remained an enigma.

His chauffer and sleek Mercedes Benz Limousine were waiting for him.  I preferred to walk all the way down Sloane Street, then King’s Road and Flood Street.  I could not but notice the policeman who was standing in front of the house of Mrs. Margaret Thatcher who was then the Prime Minister of Britain.

• Bashorun Randle writes from Lagos.