|
New Page 9
Ige: Prosecutor, Akande dies in London
FELIX DURUMBAH, News Editor,
BISIRIYU OLAOYE, Deputy News Editor, and ACHILLEUS UCHEGBU,
Asst. News Editor with correspondents’ reports.
NIGERIA’S
legal landscape shook yesterday following news of the death of Chief Debo Akande
(SAN), 66,the erstwhile lead prosecutor in the murder trial of Sen. Iyiola
Omisore and others over the alleged assassination of former Justice Minister and
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Chief Bola Ige (SAN).
Prominent Nigerians, including Gov. Bola
Tinubu of Lagos State, pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere,
legal luminaries Chiefs Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), Richard Akinjide (SAN), O.C.J.
Okocha (SAN) former governor of old Oyo State, Dr. Victor Olunloyo and others
have expressed shock at the demise of Chief Akande, who passed on in London
Saturday night.
The late Chief Akande, who prosecuted the
Bola Ige murder with all doggedness, finally withdrew from the matter on August
2 this year via a letter to the Oyo State Attorney-General, Mr. Lekan Latinwo.
Circumstances leading to Akande’s death
were not clear as at press time yesterday even as details were emerging.
Sympathizers thronged the deceased’s 7,
Alawode Street, Surulere, Lagos residence.
Reacting to the demise, Gov. Tinubu
expressed shock and sadness, saying the death coming "at this time is most
unexpected."
"He has left us at a time when more than
ever before this country needs men of his kind, who had an unblemished record of
character, courage and integrity," he said.
Tinubu described the late Chief Akande as
a man, who was consistent in espousing and standing by progressive values. He
was a steadfast member both of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and the
Alliance for Democracy (AD) in this dispensation."
In the statement personally signed by the
governor, he noted that the late Chief Akande was as gentle as a dove, but bold
as a lion.
"He was a man who had the courage to quit
his job as Secretary to the defunct Constitutional Review Committee during the
Abacha’s regime when he detected the insincerity of the government’s transition
project. He was never one to sell his conscience for a morsel of pottage."
Nigerians, Tinubu said, would never forget
the doggedness with which the late Akande prosecuted the celebrated murder case
of Chief Ige in very difficult circumstance.
The hallmark of his legal career was the
utilisation of the law as a potent weapon for social justice. I have no doubt
that the strain of that case must have taken a heavy toll on him.
"We will miss his formidable intellect. We
will miss his passion for justice. We will miss his commitment to truth," Tinubu
added.
On its part apex Yoruba group Afenifere,
through Mr. Yinka Odumakin, its Director of Publicity, said the death is
"shocking and very unfortunate," most especially at a time he (Akande) wrote
that he was no longer interested in the Bola Ige murder trial.
"It was unfortunate that he could not
achieve his aim of bringing those who killed Bola Ige to book before his demise,
but then we believe that one day justice will be done," Afenifere said.
Chief Fawehinmi, who spoke on telephone
with Daily Champion, described the late Chief Akande as "a good man".
"What a tragedy! This is a tragedy for
legal profession. He was my classmate. We graduated the same day. He was very
down to earth. Very thorough. He loved the legal profession. It was dearest to
his heart. Debo was such an honest and sincere man. He has very high integrity.
The circle of SAN will miss him very
badly. Debo is Debo and nobody can fill his place. He was a brave man. He served
the legal profession with his life. He was one of the greatest Nigerian
lawyers," he said
Also speaking on telephone, former
Attorney-General of the Federation. Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) said "this is a
great shock. It is unbelievable. This is impossible."
Also describing the death as "shocking,"
immediate past president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Chief Okocha (SAN)
said "he was like a senior brother to me."
"During my tenure as NBA president, he
stood by me. He supported the NBA all through. He was a very supportive Bar man.
He carries the NBA along all the time. It is shocking to hear this", he said.
Commenting also, chairman, Legal Aid
Council of Nigeria, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) said "it is a great loss."
"It is a big loss to the NBA. The late
Akande is somebody who served the NBA to the best of his ability. He served NBA
to the last. At all times, he thought NBA. His loss is deep. He is
irreplaceable. We pray God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the great
loss," he said.
Also describing late Chief Akande as a
rare gem, Chief Phillip Umeh, who was immediate past secretary-general of the
NBA, said the legel fraternity has lost an elder whose wise counsel is well
sought.
"My goodness! This is shocking. It is a
big loss to the legal profession particularly at this time when we need people
like him to direct and lead the young ones.
"Nigeria has lost a great legal luminary.
We cannot question the will of God. Death is a necessary end of all mortals. But
Akande had made his mark in the sands of time and cannot be easily forgotten. He
is a Bar man to the core and was very committed to the legal profession and the
NBA.
"I pray God to grant his family,
particularly his wife, Jadesola Akande, fortitude to bear this great loss.
"I also condole with the NBA president,
Chief Wole Olanipekun for this irreplaceable loss. We surely will miss his
elderly advice to the NBA," he stated.
The late Chief Akande, a SAN since 1986,
was born in Ibadan on June 9, 1938.
He attended Ibadan Boys’ High School; St.
Gregory’s College, Lagos, 1952-57; Westminster College, London, 1960-61;
University of London, England, 1961-64; Council of Legal Education, London,
1961-64 where he was called to the English Bar, Inner Temple, London and engaged
thereafter in private legal practice.
He was a director, Union Bank of Nigeria
between 1977 and 1979; member House of Representatives, 1979-83; and prior to
that, between 1977 and 1979 he was the general secretary, NBA; member, Federal
Public Accounts Committee and member, Legal Aid Council; member, Council of
Legal Education since 1976; and member, Bar Council of Nigeria, 1977-80.
The late Chief Akande who was also the
assistant secretary-general, African Bar Association, between 1977 and 1979;
member, Amnesty International; and World Peace Through Law, was the secretary
general of the defunct Constitutional Review Committee, 1994; resigned his
membership of the committee in 1995.
He was a member of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)
1978-1983 and Alliance for Democracy (AD). He was married to Prof. Jadesola
Olayinka Akande the present chairman, governing council, Federal University of
Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State.
|
