A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Niyi Akintola has disclosed that he and other lawyers used to resolve many legal issues at the Ibadan home of late Chief Richard Akinjide.
Akintola, who disclosed this when he visited the Idi-Ishin home of the deceased yesterday, also described the late Ibadan-born elder statesman as a role model for a lot of people.
He said: “Former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and even Chief Wole Olanipekun used to lead us to Pa Akinjide’s residence in Ibadan. Even when there were issues among judges of Oyo State in the past, we resolved those issues in his Ibadan house, under his control. We received tutelage from him; his house in Ibadan used to be our Mecca.
“He was the only Nigerian that I know who occupied the presidency of the NBA and declined a ministerial appointment. He was first offered the position of Attorney-General by Governor Oluwole Rotimi, but he declined.
“He considered his position in NBA as very sacrosanct and very important to the wellbeing of lawyers, and at the same time very instrumental to the development of rule of law in the country.
He added: “Akinjide was a role model for us and one of our leaders. Those of us who were trained as lawyers in Ibadan are very lucky with our leaders. He would call us to take up responsibility. In courts, I appeared with Chief Akinjide and I also appeared against him. He was a colossus.
“It was a befitting exit for him. Of course, like every human being, he had his faults. Like I said to Jumoke, they have no reason to be sorrowful, but to celebrate their father. Millions of Nigerians would love to have Akinjide as their father.”
