No fewer than 20 traditional rulers from Ijebuland in Ogun State, led by the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, were in Lagos last week to honour Mr Tunji Ayanlaja (SAN), who they described as one of their own.
The launch of his book titled, Ikeja Bar Review, was organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch and held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Lagos State Secretariat, Ikeja under the chairmanship of Mr. George Oguntade, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The Awujale, in an address presented on his behalf by the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Yinusa Adekoya, said they were pleased with the SAN and his achievements at the bar, adding that this was why the Council of Obas and the Ijebu Traditional Council decided to support the building project of the NBA Ikeja branch through him.
Oba Adetona said most of them have known Mr Ayanlaja “from the youth, through adolescence, when he was at the university and graduated as a lawyer and later became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
“Tunji is not the only Ijebu son practising law in Lagos or in any other place but we are supporting him because he is dear to us”.
The Ajalorun of Ife, Oba Adesesan Oguntayo, eulogised Mr Ayanlaja, saying that they decided to honour him with their presence because of their relationship with him.
The Chief Executive Officer of Tanus Communications, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, who said the honouree is his childhood friend, described him as a man committed to the practice and the advancement of the legal profession.
“He love his family and he is a man to whom I owe a lot,” he said.
In a welcome address, the Chairman of the NBA, Ikeja, Mr Monday Ubani, said the branch in 2010 did a publication on Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, and that this year, they published a collection of articles from learned practitioners and lecturers which was put together as a book review, adding that all aspects of the law, including labour, industrial, property, business, marine, aviation, civil, criminal among other areas were covered in the book.
Ubani also said it is the tradition of the branch to always honour those who have shown commitment to the bar and national development, saying: “not because of their size or pocket, but because they have been identified as men of integrity who pursue excellence in whatever they do”.
He said they found all these qualities in Mr Ayanlaja and that was why the book was launched in his honour.
Ubani acknowledged the presence of Justice Oguntade and the monarchs, describing it as a testimony to the fact that “Ayanlaja is a home boy’. He identifies with his community and that is the kind of people we want at the bar”.
“We believe that anyone who is worthy of being honoured in that branch, we would in the coming years honour. We are going to be giving honour to people of note when they are alive and not after they have died,” he stressed.
Dr. Yemi Oke of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, who reviewed the book described it as “a good mix of legal scholarship” and a publication made up “of legal-scholarly contributions from writers of difference geographical, social and cultural orientations/backgrounds. It represents a good evidence of town-gown-classroom-court-room, as it attracts input from academics, practitioners and in-house counsel and legal administrators at the highest cadre of the legal profession (SAN). The book covers a range of typologies of legal essays, ranging from short articles, case review, statute review, book review and others”.
According to him, the book, which is a 167-page collection of legal essays and learned articles written by some of the best legal minds in the country, is also a collection of legal writings covering diverse fields of law ranging from practice and procedure, criminal law, intellectual property, labour/employment law, socio-legal issues, evidence law and practice, international environmental law, forensics, banking and finance, administrative law, oil and gas, military law, among others.
Mr Ayanlaja praised Chief G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN), who he said, is another illustrious son of Ijebu Ode whose inspiration and leadership prepared him for his career.
He said because he was in a hurry to join the bar, he, in 1971, attached himself to the chamber of Chief Ajayi, who he said took him on a tour of the Lagos High Court when he was eventually called to the bar.
According to him, Chief Ajayi introduced him to the court clerks and the registrars and admonished him to be friendly with them stressing that they would be important and that he would need them if he must make a success of his chosen career as a legal practitioner.
He disclosed that Chief Ajayi taught him three virtues of a successful lawyer and listed them to include good dress sense, punctuality both in the office and at the court (which he accorded 40 per cent ) and that any lawyer could improve on this grade before a judge by the good delivery of the subject matter.
“He also admonished me to pass the message to other colleagues in chamber and to relate this to new entrants into the profession in order for them to inherit and benefit from this message of G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN),” he said.
Ayanlaja acknowledged the honour, pointing out that it was done not because he is a SAN, but because of those little things he mentioned and shared with those who cared to listen.
He, therefore, urged upcoming lawyers to dedicate themselves to the profession and emulate those elders who have contributed to the development of the legal profession in the country.
Other traditional rulers from Ijebuland on the occasion at which over N5million and 1,000 pounds sterlin was realised included the Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye, Oba Dr. Abdulrazaq Adenugba, the Oloko of Ijebu Imusin, Oba Stephen Onafowokan
The SANs include the Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, Mr Jimoh Lasisi, Mr Olu Daramola, Prince Segun Ajibola, Mr. Dele Adesina, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, Chief Niyi Akintola and Chief Bolaji Ayorinde who led the London group, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko, among others.
