Encomiums As Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Olujinmi, SAN Clocks 70
The Chambers of Olujinmi and Akeredolu, Legal Practitioners and Notary Public, connived with children of the Septuagenarian, to host a surprise birthday dinner in honour of the former Minister. THISDAY Lawyer captured the mode of the event.
Although at a very short notice, senior members of the outer and the inner bar graced the occasion with their presence, to celebrate a man often described as 'a study in honour and humility'. Chief Olujinmi's friends, colleagues, as well as juniors at the Bar, took turns to shower encomiums on the legal icon, after a 40-page citation presented by the Legal Adviser in the Ministry of Interior, Bola Olugbesan.
Although, many of the guests expressed their desire to reel out their experiences with the Chief Olujinmi, only a few people had the rare opportunity, and as such, the opportunity was judiciously explored by the individual speakers.
Professor Akinseye-George Professor Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, who worked with Chief Olujinmi as Special Assistant in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice between 2003 and 2005, was the first to share his thoughts about his boss. Prof. Akinseye-George, recalled a lot of laudable reforms which were initiated during Olujinmi's tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation, including the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, reform of Law of Arbitration, reform of the Law of Evidence, the National Human Rights Commission, etc.
According to the Law Professor, Olujinmi's service, was defined by one major principle, and the principle was ‘what is good for the people of Nigeria’. He described his tenure as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, as one which demonstrated absolute selflessness, as he said his principal was not interested in personal benefit, but what benefits Nigeria and Nigerians.
He however, suggested that Olujinmi's legacy and ideals, should be documented and subsequent celebrations of his birthday, should include academic discourse.
"This is just the beginning of the celebration, we are going to have much bigger celebration, because Chief Olujinmi is an intellectual. A dinner will not be sufficient to celebrate him. We need to have a colloquium and other things that will preserve his legacy, because I know he is a man who is very conscious of his position in history and very conscious of his legacy”, he stated.
Akinseye-George maintained that Chief Olujinmi achieved certain standards as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, which subsequent Attorneys-General, would struggle to meet.
"He leads without controlling, he served humanity through humility, and we also learnt from him his neatness. Chief taught us many virtues, including humility, and the virtues were taught without saying a word. He was a leader by example par excellence, he taught us hard work, he was always the last person in the office, he served Nigeria much more than he served himself. And finally, I want to say this, his time in the Ministry of Justice, was the time many lawyers and civil servants were happy, which confirms that when the righteous are in power, the people rejoice”.
Prince Lateef Fagbemi Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who joined Chief Olujinmi as a junior counsel in the chambers of Are Afe Babalola, in 1984, described his mentor as a man of intellect and great courage.
Although, Fagbemi got his silk before his senior, Chief Olujinmi, memories of how he was encouraged by the septuagenarian would not leave him.
"Those days, not like now when it has been abused, it was very difficult s see a lawyer wear stripped trousers except for senior lawyers. Look at his height, it was his own that I took, and I adjusted it. The other time we had an event in Ibadan, I brought it, because I have still kept the trousers”, Fagbemi said.
Prince Fagbemi described his senior, as a core professional who will not comprise the position of the law for any reason whatsoever.
"If there is any gentleman whose position you will know on any issue, it is this gentleman, he will not deceive you, either for good or for bad. Whenever in happiness or in anger, his voice is always the same."
He cited two examples to buttress his fair assessment of Chief Olujinmi.
"He is not a politician, so that was why, when some people were expecting him to say yes, when the advice would be a no, they were disappointed. Forgive me, I hope this is not a classified matter anymore, there was a time the Lagos State Government got a judgement against the Federal Government, for the release of some funds for Lagos State, I know that he made a recommendation for the release of the money, and his argument was anchored on the fact that, when you get to the Supreme Court, that is the end of the matter, and to show leadership, you need to order the release of this money, so the release was made on paper, but don't let me go beyond that. But if you had challenged the authorities that were in existence then, they would tell you that they have ordered the release. The point I want to make here, is that no matter the situation, Chief Olujinmi will tell you what you need, not what you want to hear."
"Another one was when the then Governor of Anambra State, Chris Ngige, was stripped of his security details, Chief Olujinmi was asked to see one or two people, with a view to advice that it was in order, and Chief has one language which has always been with him, if he is not going to do something, he will say 'lai lai', that means it can never happen. A lot of us, his juniors learnt from him”, Fagbemi stated.
Chief Adegboyega Awomolo Chief Olujinmi 's friend of over 40 years, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, also took some time to relate their family ties to the audience.
Awomolo, in his court voice adopted the testimonies of Prof Akinseye-George and the words of Prince Lateef Fagbemi.
He recounted their days at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, as well as their very cordial relationship beyond the campus life: “Akin and I started our journey long ago. I just thank God that 'Ogun omode ti sere fun ogun odun,' that means that 20 children have come together for 20 years, and we have gone beyond 20 years, we have gone over 40 years”.
"We met in 1975, we lived together, we related as friends, I was a year his senior, I was the President of Law Students Society, and I handed over the baton to him. On our graduation, he gave me a gift and when he graduated I also gave him a gift. I was posted to Kwara State as a Youth Corper, when I finished. He also came to Kwara State to do his NYSC, we didn't arrange it. When Akin and I were living together, we read all the law reports we could lay our hands on, and took notes. When I finished a volume, I would pass it on to him, and he did same. Our seniors would come and ask us for opinions, for cases, so we have come a long way. Thank you my friend, for accommodating me, because I am not as patient as you are. Akin I am happy you're 70, I was 70 last September, and you were also there at my celebration."
Awomolo however, urged Olujinmi, to consider the calls for a public lecture and symposium, in his subsequent birthday celebrations.
Other senior lawyer who attended the occasion include, Director- General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof. Adedeji Adekunle, SAN, Alex Iziyon, SAN, Solomon Ekomaro, SAN, Gordy Uche, SAN, and Wale Fapohunda, former Attorney-General of Ekiti State, while the esteemed presence of Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, confirmed that Chief Akin Olujinmi is a well respected personality.
“PROF. AKINSEYE-GEORGE, RECALLED A LOT OF LAUDABLE REFORMS WHICH WERE INITIATED DURING OLUJINMI'S TENURE AS ATTORNEYGENERAL OF THE FEDERATION, INCLUDING THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT, REFORM OF LAW OF ARBITRATION, REFORM OF THE LAW OF EVIDENCE, THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, ETC”