Obasanjo condoles with Akande family
From Madu Onuorah (Abuja) and Ibe Uwaleke (Lagos)
PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday sent a message of condolence to the family of the late legal luminary, Chief Debo Akande (SAN), who died in London last Saturday.
In the letter addressed to the widow of the deceased, Prof. Jadesola Akande, President Obasanjo said he felt a great and personal sense of loss at the death of the former chairman of the Body of Benchers.
He described Chief Akande as an exceptional Nigerian who, through dint of hard work rose to the pinnacle of the legal profession, saying that he exhibited uncommon courage and commitment to progressive ideals in his contributions to the political development of our country."
The President disclosed that Chief Akande paid him what is now a farewell visit on the eve of his departure to England. He noted it was ironic that the visit marked the last time they met.
According to the President, "little did I know that it was to part and not to meet again on this side of veil. My family and I join you in mourning the passage of the great Nigerian whose life-long commitment to the noble principles of equity, justice and fairness to all will remain a glowing example to present and future generations in our country. With Chief Akande's death, a beacon of courage and integrity has sadly departed from our midst and we will all miss him greatly."
He called on God to grant the family of the departed the fortitude to bear the loss.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday announced that a valedictory court session will be held on Thursday, August 19 at 10.am in the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus Auditorium Victoria Island in honour of the deceased hero of the Bar, who until his death was the Chairman of the Body of Benchers.
His body, according to family sources, will be flown in from London at the weekend. No date has however been announced for the burial.
Speaking at the NBA National Secretariat at Victoria Island, Lagos yesterday, the Secretary General of the Association, Deacon Dele Adesina said the President of the body, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has asked him to convey the message to the public at a press conference arranged by the association to reveal the programme of events of the coming NBA delegate conference holding in Abuja between August 22 and 27, 2004.
According to Adesina, the valedictory session will hold on Thursday, August 19, 2004 by 10 a.m. at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus Auditorium at Victoria Island, Lagos.
He enjoined all lawyers and well-wishers across the country to attend the session as that will offer them the opportunity to pay their last respect to the late lawyer.
Akande was a past secretary-general of the association and a life member of the association's national executive committee.
More tributes to the great lawyer have continued to pour in. The Director -General of the Nigerian Law School, Chief John Kayode SAN yesterday led two principal officers of the school to pay a condolence visit to Akande's wife, Prof. Jadesola.
Jegede who was accompanied by the Secretary to the Council of Legal Education and Director of Administration, Mr. Olanrewaju Onadeko and Deputy Director (Academics, Lagos Campus), Mrs. Olatoun Adebiyi, wrote in the condolence thus: "Chief Akande was a nice and decent gentleman. A distinguished legal practitioner. Highly principled. A legal practitioner per excellence."
According to an academic and Professor of Law, Prof. C. O. Okonkwo, the late Akande was a "fine lawyer who pursued his professional career with diligence and utmost precision, adding that the deceased paid attention to every little detail in his professional practice.
Another senior lawyer and expert in commercial and banking law, Mr. Akintola Jimoh, also described Akande as a frontline lawyer who distinguished himself in the legal profession.
According to Jimoh, the late lawyer paid attention to details, ethics, integrity, justice and due diligence. To him Akande was indeed "a traditional lawyer."
As he put it, NBA as a whole will miss him as the late lawyer played a pivotal role within the rank and file of the legal profession.
"I tell you the gains of Chief Akande are more than the loss we suffered by his death. I therefore respectfully condole with the family of the deceased, but speaking frankly, the family has better benefits of the great man's accomplishments," Jimoh remarked.
