Hon. Justice Ilori: A Judicial Titan Goes Home
A valedictory court session was held last Wednesday, November 24, 2021, in honour of the 9th Chief Judge of Lagos State, Honourable Justice Samuel Omotunde Ilori at the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja. His Lordship who joined the Saints triumphant on October 12, 2021 at the age of 87, had an illustrious career. He also had an expansive Magistrate Court named after him, during his lifetime. He is here celebrated in Tribute by his daughter, Hon. Justice Olusola Williams (Rtd), Chief Mrs Abimbola Williams Akinjide, SAN, Hon. Justice Olabisi Akinlade and Olukayode Enitan, SAN. May the soul of the faithfully departed, rest in peace. Amen
Tribute to Our Dear Father Hon. Justice Olusola Williams (Rtd)
DHon. Justice Ilori, the Family Man addy was a responsible husband. I remember one time he travelled, and the DSTV subscription in the house had run out. He called me from London, to make sure I paid. He asked me to loan him the money...saying "Se o mo pe, nkan ti Mummy ma nwo niyèn." A few years ago, when I went visiting, I saw him cleaning Mummy's wound with methylated spirit or some other astringent. Interestingly, he called her a baby even as he winced. It is an open secret that, Daddy was the worst patient ever!
He looked after his wife, and that taught us how to be responsible. Like Sister Titi said, we all had to do vacation jobs. We earned money which we were to save, and use for extras in University. We learnt a culture of saving, and providing for ourselves.
A father to the Core, Daddy loved Children
Fatherhood was his very essence. He fathered many, from his large heart. A man who had eleven biological children and fully adopted three children, but made no difference between us all. He had yet many more children, some of whom were not his blood that he fathered and mentored. Only Daddy could have come up with the weird law that all his children, biological and non-biological, living under his roof had to come out to greet him when he came home from a hard day's work. We all had to rush out as soon as we heard him tooting his horn. I guess he just loved the medley of "Daddy è kaabò; as Sister Titi mentioned in her tribute. But, his rationale for the law was, "mo fè mò oye òmò ti mo bi!".
It is so amazing how he had time for his children, in spite of such a heavy workload! He had to come home to judge cases like ..."The stolen fruit in the tree", between a Lagosian and a cunning Ijesha man!
Daddy was a Disciplinarian Par Excellence
He poured so much into us. His parenting style was wonderful, but we didn't realise it until much later. Daddy related to each one of us individually, personally, and knew us all well. He dealt with us individually...some of us ‘hummnn, koboko ya!’. Still, he knew when to stop the beating. I think I had withdrawal symptoms from the koboko! Someone like Ayo got a good talking to, that tamed him for days. Aboaba cut grass ‘so teyyy’! Sis Titi was facing the wall at home, on instruction given on the phone.
Bimbo was seen as delicate, and never beaten. I think Gbenga as the last born child, also escaped the koboko. Daddy taught us with strict discipline and hardship (which strengthened us), but never tried to break our spirit.
Like Aunty Yemisi wrote, Daddy taught us to be able to hold our own any and every where, to ask questions and discuss issues. Of course, when he cared to, he demolished arguments; but, at other times he deflected issues with humour, or only dignified us with a hiss. Or he would come up with something like: "Are you trying to talk like a stupid girl?".
We had to come together as "Igbimò"(alabe shekele), to plan our discussions and arguments with him. Our first resolution was not to use the "tush" title Daddy for him in our deliberations, because he was too old fashioned. We gave him the title "Baba". Daddy tried to resist that title sugbòn, "ihan igbimò jè". In ra mo hian Igbimò .... ki o ba dawò le o..o maa bò lube!" Unfortunately, we had a weak link...Ikèpò the Christian, who always repented and easily owned up when Daddy confronted us.
Baba of life!
He taught us never to have any sense of entitlement (guess that also helped a hardworking young man with many mouths to feed).
Once he dropped Kemi and I at GCA and left. We looked at each other and said: "wòn o ma fun wa ni pocket money!" But, we knew it was not a right, and braced up for a 'lean' term. He sent us money a few days later...I guess after he received his salary.
He was such a positive influence. He loved the legal profession, but Daddy never forced anyone to read law. He just expected us to be responsible and make wise choices, confident that he raised us right. Still he made law so exciting that Yemisi Kekere, Bosun, Gbenga, Mayowa and I, all read law.
He was a Born Teacher
We were made to play scrabble games, that turned into stern grammar lessons. I remember him saying something like: “It is a simple rule of English language that a 'q' is always followed by 'u'...so, what stupid word are you trying to form??".
Daddy taught us respect. He respected any and every one. There was no high or low with him. He gave every human being his or her due. Even his grandchildren and great grand daughter of nine years, carried on real and meaningful conversations with him. He was never rude, nor talked down on people. He was humble and very comfortable in his own skin. There was never any preparation to receive VIPs; all guests were welcomed with warmth. He respected his children as individuals, and never shut us down even from a young age. I remember once Daddy asked Tunde how much he had saved from his vacation job, and Tunde replied that his account was his personal and private business. Daddy nodded, and respected Tunde's position. The only problem was that when Tunde was going back to school and asked for money, Daddy reminded Tunde of the principle that everybody's money is their personal business!
Daddy defined contentment. He was happy with his lot. He would never ask for favours. As Sope said, Daddy didn't live a flamboyant life. He testified that Daddy always said to him; ..."owo melo ni eniyan fè na?".
He believed in Merit and Hard Work
“We say thank you Daddy. We, your children, are grateful to you, and we are grateful to God for giving us such a great man as our father”
Daddy was an activist. He would not demand special treatment or fight for extra benefit, but he would fight to ensure people were treated fairly. He went out of his way to help family members, but God help us his children if we did not work hard to earn our due. If you told Daddy that you needed his clout, for example, seek assistance with school admission, he would ask..."Kini ki nse ti mo ba de bè? Se mo ma dòbalè fun lecturer ni, abi ki nkunlè?" "Abi ki nkawò sèhi tèri ba?".
He taught us to work hard, and to strive. We were expected to get things by merit, not favour. He was so proud of Poju, our Òga Òlòpa. He would have been so happy for Yemisi Kekere as she then was, now Honourable Justice Adelaja. Daddy Abiyamò tootò, has not stopped looking after his children. Since he departed, we have been experiencing rains of blessings .... knowing him, Daddy is shaking things in heaven.