Tony Amokeodo, Francis Famoroti, Yemisi Aina and Kayode Ketefe
Foremost Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Debo Akande, 66, is dead.
Akande, who became a SAN in July 1986, according to a family source, passed away in London in the early hours of Sunday.
He was said to have slumped that morning in London while on his annual vacation and died on the way to the hospital.
Confirming the incident to our correspondents in Lagos on Sunday, spokesman for the family, Mr. Wole Sowole, said Akande, , died on his way to the hospital.
Akande, who until recently was the lead prosecution counsel in the celebrated murder case of the late former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, died only days after his withdrawal from the case was made public.
Oyo state, which had retained Akande for the Ige trial, announced details of his withdrawal in Ibadan, Oyo State on Friday.
Sowole, who spoke with our correspondents at Akande's 7, Alawode Street, Aguda, Surulere, residence said, "He had started his annual holiday, which he normally spent in London.
"After his dinner, he was about to go to his hotel when he slumped. He quickly called for an ambulance, which responded immediately. He, however, died on his way to the hospital by 12.30 am."
Our correspondents' effort to speak to the wife of the deceased, Jadesola, a professor and SAN, was unsuccessful.
Sowole said Jadesola and other members of the Akande family were not in the mood to grant any interview yet.
Sowole said, "As I am speaking to you, the entire family is too shocked to comment on what killed Chief Akande."
Sowole further disclosed to our correspondents that the family was going to meet very soon to come up with a burial programme.
As at 4.30 pm when our correspondents left the house located behind the famous Kilo Hotel, Aguda, eight sympathisers had signed the condolence register.
Some of them included the former Secretary of Transport during the Interim National Government, Chief Wole Adeosun; former Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Lanre Towry-Coker; and the son of the late Ige, Muyiwa.
Towry-Coker wrote in the register, "You were still a pillar of strength for my family. God, why do good people continue to pass away like this?"
Muyiwa simply wrote, "Oro pesi je." (The issue has gone beyond any comment.)
Akande, survived by four children (Justice Adenike Coker (nee Akande); Adeboye; Joke and Dayo) would be fondly remembered for the role he played in the prosecution of those suspected to be masterminds of the killing of Ige in his Ibadan home on December 23, 2001.
Chief among those arrested and arraigned by the police were former Osun State Deputy Governor, Chief Iyiola Omisore, who is now a senator.
Akande expressed disappointment when Omisore was acquitted by the court, saying that the former deputy governor knew about Ige's murder.
Born on June 9, 1938, Akande, who got married to Jadesola in 1963, attended the famous Ibadan Boys High School, Ibadan and St. Gregory's College Lagos between 1952 and 1957 before proceeding to the Westminster College, London between 1960 and 1961.
He attended the University of London, England between 1961 and 1964 before he was called to the English Bar, Inner Temple, also in London.
After this, he went into private legal practice.
Akande was the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association between 1977 and 1979 before becoming a member of the House of Representatives between 1979 and 1983.
In 1995, he was appointed the Secretary of the National Constitutional Conference set up by late General Sani Abacha but resigned his appointment based on a disagreement over the roles he ought to play as the secretary of the conference.
Akande, the Assistant Secretary General of the African Bar Association between 1977 and 1979, was a member of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria and a disciple of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Prominent Nigerians, especially lawyers, who reacted to news of his death, said he would be sorely missed.
Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, described Akande's death as shocking.
Tinubu in a condolence message said his demise at this time was most shocking and unexpected, saying he died at a time when the country needed men of his kind with an unblemished record of character, courage and intergrity.
Tinubu said Akande was consistent throughout his life in espousing and standing by progressive values.
"This perfect gentleman was an embodiment of modesty despite his outstanding intellectual, professional and social attainments. He was gentle as a dove but bold as a lion. He was a man who has the courage to quit his job as secretary to the constitutional Review Committee during the Abacha Administration once he detected the insincerity of the regime's transition project. He was never one to sell his conscience for a mess of pottage," he said.
According to the governor, Nigerians would never forget the doggedness with which he prosecuted the celebrated murder case of the late Bola Ige in very difficult circumstances.
He said, "I have no doubt that the strain of that case must have taken a heavy toll on Chief Akande.
"We will miss his formidable intellect. We will miss his passion for justice. We will miss his commitment to truth. We will miss his courageous voice of reason and wisdom. But he will remain an enduring inspiration for generations yet unborn to place the values of honour, character and integrity above ephemeral material acquisitions," he said.
Also reacting, former Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association Lagos branch, Mr. Abiodun Dabiri, told our correspondents that he received the news with shock, describing Akande as one of the most experienced lawyers in Nigeria.
Dabiri said, "He has been very supportive at the Bar both at the branch and national levels and he had contributed immensely to the effective administration of justice in the country."
The NBA Chairman, Lagos branch, Mr. Akin Akinbote in his own reaction, said Akande's death was painful noting that the deceased was an active bar member.
Akinbote said, "He assisted tremendously in arriving at remarkable decisions at our NEC [National Executive Committee] meetings. We are not only going to miss him but we will miss his wise counsel as a senior member of the Bar."
