Debo Akande Dies in London at 66
By Shaka Momodu, Abimbola Akosile in Lagos and Ademola Adeyemo in Ibadan
The ranks of the nation's senior advocates diminished yesterday with the death in London of Chief Debo Akande. Akande died on Saturday night.
His death came a few days after he withdrew as the lead prosecutor of the remaining seven accused persons charged with the murder of former attorney-general of the federation, Chief Bola Ige.
Akande withdrew because he said he was not consulted before Oyo State Government entered for a nolle prosequi of Alani Omisore, Jelili Adesiyan, Kunle Alao and Lambe Oyasope, all political associates of Senator Iyiola Omisore who had earlier been discharged and acquitted by Justice Akinola Sanda.
Akande was quoted as saying that "since I was neither debriefed nor notified or consulted before the nolle prosequi was entered, I do not see it as proper or honourable for me to accede to your request to come and appear for the prosecution. I certainly reject your offer to continue the unfinished defense started by you."
One of the earliest to publicly mourn the exit of Akande is Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu who expressed sadness over the news.
Describing Akande as a "frontline legal practitioner, statesman and political activist," Tinubu said, "he has left us at a time when more than ever before, this country needs men of his kind with an unblemished record of character, courage and integrity."
Akande, he said, "was consistent throughout his life in espousing and standing by progressive values. Accordingly, he was a steadfast member both of the UPN (Unity Party of Nigeria) in the Second Republic and the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in this dispensation. He was a principled politician for whom politics was about offering selfless service for the common good."
"He was gentle as a dove but bold as a lion. Here was a man who had 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," the governor said.
Also reacting to Akande's death yesterday, former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General during the Second Republic, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) described his death "as a great blow to the legal profession."
Akinjide who said he was shocked on hearing about Akande's death declared that with his demise, the country has lost another patriot and a leading legal practitioner.
"We have lost a great Yoruba and Nigerian patriot. I don't know why this should happen again at this time, I am lost for words, my condolence to his wife, children and members of the legal profession."
"I have known him for almost 40 years as a colleague, politician and a son of Ibadan soil," he said.
Akande was educated at Ibadan Boys High School, St. Gregory's College, Lagos, Westminster College, London, University of London and Council of Legal Education, London. He was called to the English Bar in 1964.
He had served as a director of Union Bank and left upon his election as a member of the Federal House of Representatives between 1979 - 1983. He had served the Nigerian Bar Assocation, African Bar Association and Amnesty Internation in different capacities.
He joined the rank of the silk robed lawyers in 1986.
Akande was survived by his wife, Professor Jadesola Akande, former vice chancellor of the Lagos State University and a daughter, Justice Nike Coker, who is a judge of a Lagos High Court.
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