Onagoruwa: Passage of a Legal Icon
Jude Igbanoi writes on the life and times of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, who passed on to eternal glory last Friday. Nigeria has lost one of its most courageous Attorney-Generals and Ministers of Justice,
Onagoruwa who turned 80 recently, was a human rights activist and social crusader who ironically and against all advice from the human rights community, served the Sani Abacha administration as Attorney- General from 1993 - 1994.
The death of his son under questionable and suspicious circumstances, abruptly ended his tenure, when he suffered a stroke on hearing that his son may have been killed by the then military junta. Ongoruwa’s sin as Attorney-General, was his effrontery in ordering the immediate release of Mr. Turner Ogboru, when the court granted him freedom, against the wishes of the military junta.
Olu Onagoruwa studied Law at the University of London where he obtained his LL.B, LL.M and PhD degrees. He thereafter, returned to Nigeria to attend the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar in 1971.
Tradition at the Nigeria Bar, is that when a lawyer who is not yet a Senior Advocate of Nigeria gets appointed as Attorney-General of the Federation, he automatically gets elevated into the Inner Bar at the next investiture. But Onagoruwa’s case was an exception, as his award of SAN came only in 2015, over two decades after.
Tributes
Asiwaju Solomon Awomolo, SAN – Former Osun State Attorney-General
‘We thank God for the life Dr. Olu Onagoruwa SAN. He was Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at perhaps the most trying period in the life of this country. It was a time when Olu had to wrestle with military dictatorship to protect the right of citizens, balance the rule of law with military exigencies. For me, he recorded success in preserving the integrity honour and independence of judiciary. He was not a pretender, but very bold advocate who was respected even by his adversary. His taking Silk, even though delayed, was most deserving and he never brought shame or radicle or brought dishonour to the rank. He deserves to rest in perfect peace in the Bosom Abraham.'
Mr. Sylva Ogwemoh, SAN
‘Dr. Gabriel Olu Onagoruwa SAN, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, was an activist lawyer, fearless and highly principled. He fought for the cause of the common Man and ensured justice for all, even at the risk of losing his life. I recall his directive as AGF, for the immediate release of Mr. Turner Ogboru, who was held in custody on allegations of plotting a coup, following a High Court order for his release, against the position of his boss, late General Sani Abacha. It is only a highly principled and fearless appointee of government in Nigeria like the late Dr. Olu Onagoruwa, who could take such a decision under a military junta. It is difficult to find the likes of late Dr. Onagoruwa, SAN, today, in Nigeria. May His soul Rest In Peace with our good Lord.’
Chief Layi Babatunde, SAN – Publisher Lawbreed
‘Our late senior colleague, lived an eventful life. As a Legal Practitioner, he prosecuted and defended many worthy causes . As a Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, long before he became AGF, I was involved in some cases, where he appeared as counsel. He was fair in his presentation and exhibited candor . Unfortunately, he became AGF in very trying times. The appointment proved extremely challenging for him, his friends and family members, but all of that is now history. It was a difficult period in the life of our nation. I will say with respect, that he did his best for the profession and our Country. May His gentle soul Rest In Peace. May God comfort his family.’
Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN – Former Director General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
‘Dr Olu Onaguruwa was my boss, my friend, mentor and role model. Besides being my birthday mate, he was one of the most principled Nigerians I have come across. I was privileged to work with him as his Special Assistant, when he was Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. His knowledge of the Law was breathtakingly unparalleled, and his commitment to service of his fatherland, legendary. He stood up to be counted, when matters of human rights came to the fore (even in a Military administration), and was prepared to risk his job in defence of the principles he lived his life to uphold. A detribalised Nigerian of distinction, he was not given to Favouritism based on tribe, and was never caught in the ethical dilemma of preferential treatment to his people. I have no doubt that history will be kind to him, and he will be remembered as a leading light of human rights advocacy and activism, and as a foremost constitutionalist. Nigeria is undoubtedly diminished by his death. My condolences to his family .May his soul rest in perfect peace.’
Ode to Dr Olu Onagoruwa
Richard Akinnola
His intellectual fecundity was not in doubt, particularly on constitutional law. For years, in conjunction with his then struggle soul- mate, Gani Fawehinmi, he was a thorn in the flesh of the various military governments.
Each time Gani was incarcerated, he stood as his lawyer, and vice versa. I recall that under the Babangida junta, it was a usual practice for him and Gani to have midnight phone conversations. Then, there was no GSM, but land phones. Fully aware that their phones were wire tapped and their conversations being recorded by the security agencies, both Dr Onagoruwa and Gani would deliberately spew forth expletives against the government. It was their way of getting back at the government, which had incessantly harassed them. Dr Onagoruwa spoke truth to power.
But when the dark-goggled General Abacha came on board as the Head of State, he sent Dr Onagoruwa's Odogbolu kinsman, General Oladipo Diya to Ona- goruwa. And his mission was to appoint Onagoruwa as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. Onagoruwa informed his bossom friend Gani of this offer, and Gani sternly warned him to stay clear and reject the offer. But Onagoruwa was inclined to accept, trying to convince his friend of the need to use the opportunity, to correct what they had been clamouring.
But since Onagoruwa accepted the offer, that became the parting of ways of the two bossom friends, a situation that even led to bitter, acrimonious exchanges.
Unfortunately, during his tenure as the AGF, the military leopard refused to change its colours. It was business as usual with draconian Decrees. Onagoruwa found out too late. By the time he felt he wanted to opt out of the ship, the military showed him a "sample" by orchestrating the assassination of his son, who worked for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). A very brilliant boy with PhD. Dr Onagoruwa was totally devastated, so much so that he had stroke. He never fully recovered.
Their disagreement notwithstanding, Gani went to his house to commiserate with him over the murder of his son.
Eventually, Onagoruwa wrote a book on his experience in government, validating his reason for taking up the appointment and in the process, threw missiles at his erstwhile friend, Gani who he accused, though falsely, of supporting General Buhari as Head of State, because he allegedly gave him money to buy his house in London.
A livid Gani fired back, debunking the allegations as "wicked lies". In his response, via another book, Gani countered:
"Dr Olu Onagoruwa, in his book, shamelessly lied against me that General Mohammadu Buhari, as Head of State, helped me acquire my house in London. General Buhari's military administration lasted from Sunday, 1st January, 1984 to Monday, 26th August, 1985 when the military administration was toppled in another coup led by General Ibrahim Babangida...l did not buy any house or any landed property of any description or of any type in London between 1983 and 1985. In 1980, four years before Buhari military administration came to power, l bought an apartment in Croydon, London. It was 15 Willow Mount....Dr Olu Onagoruwa's wife, Mrs Titi Onagoruwa and her children visited my wife (Mrs. Ganiat Bukun Fawehinmi) and myself in this property in 1981. She wore a red skirt and blouse. That was three years before Buhari's military administration came to power. It is therefore surprising that Olu Onagoruwa could concoct a horrible falsehood as he shamelessly did in his book."
Despite the parting of ways of the two erstwhile friends over Abacha, because l was close to both friends, l refused to judge Dr Onagoruwa for serving Abacha, even when l had cause to criticise him in office. I believed he was entitled to his own personal conviction, even if some of us close to him, felt otherwise. He wrote the foreword to my first book SALUTE TO COURAGE: THE STORY OF JUSTICE. YAYA JINADU in 1988. I never judged him. And l always believed that nobody should judge him or anyone.
Sir, you have run your race. Fare thee well.
Richard Akinnola, Executive Director, Centre for Free Speech and a founding member of Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO)
"HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW WAS BREATHTAKINGLY UNPARALLELED, AND HIS COMMITMENT TO SERVICE OF HIS FATHERLAND, LEGENDARY....A DETRIBALISED NIGERIAN OF DISTINCTION, HE WAS NOT GIVEN TO FAVOURITISM BASED ON TRIBE, AND WAS NEVER CAUGHT IN THE ETHICAL DILEMMA OF PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO HIS PEOPLE"