THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
31
LAW & DEVELOPMENT
Honour for Justice Ogunlesi-Adio •Foundation awards scholarship L AST Saturday friends, associates and family members of the late Justice Omobusola Ogunlesi-Adio lavished encomiums on her was as they gathered at Sagamu, Ogun State, in her honour. The gathering was in commemoration of her transition, which occurred 10 years ago. It held in the form of a church service at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Sagamu, followed by a reception and launch of a foundation initiated by her children and named after her. She was married to former Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Mashood Olayiwola Adio. The late Justice Ogunlesi-Adio became a judge in 1991 and served as the Presiding Judge in Otta Judicial Division, subsequently at the Ijebu-Ode and Shagamu Judicial Divisions of the Ogun State Judiciary. She was called to the English Bar at the Gray’s Inn of Court in 1964 and the Nigerian Bar in 1965. She earlier served as Chief Legal Officer at the Lagos State Property and Development Corporation (LSDPC), Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ijebu Branch (between July 1988 and October 1990), Chairman of the Local Government Election Tribunal in Ijebu-Ode from December 1990 to May 1991. A highly religious personality, she was a member of St. Paul’s Church, Sagamu from her youth days and belonged to several societies in the church, which later became known as the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Anglican Communion, Remo Diocese. Among those at the event were the Akarigbo of Remo Land, Oba Micheal Sonariwo, Chief Justice of Ogun State, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, former judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN); Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN) and Justice Ayotunde
By Eric Ikhilae
Phillips of the Lagos High Court. Others include distinguished pharmacist and publisher, Otunba Olayinka LawalSiolarin, former Chairman, Eterna Oil & Gas Plc, Otunba Tunji Lawal-Solarin, former Group Managing Director, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Sir Remi Omotoso, his wife, Ebun and former Director-General of the Voice Of Nigeria (VON), Chief Taiwo Alimi. To all the speakers, the deceased was an epitome of morality; a philanthropist, who lived diligently and was committed to God’s work. Right Reverend Olusina Olusina Fape, the Diocesan Bishop of Remo Diocese opened the floodgate of encomiums while speaking during the church service. He recalled the late Justice Ogunlesi-Adio’s many contributions to the church and its members. He described her as a loving person, who was committed to the work of God end recalled how her assistance and contributions helped the growth of the church’s choir, to which she belonged for many years. At the reception and foundation launch, Oba Sonariwo described the family as that with a long history of philanthropy. He said his first contact with the family was with their grand mother, Tanimowo, who he described as a great philanthropist like the late Justice Ogunlesi-Adio. He praised the deceased’s children for setting up the foundation, noting that it would serve to further sustain the ideals for which Justice Ogunlesi-Adio lived. Justice Olopade, who served under the deceased at the LSDPC, described her as a great person and one of those who contributed to
ensuring her career was successful. She urged all to support the foundation to enable it achieve its goals. Lawal-Solari, who acted as the chief launcher, equally eulogised the deceased, recalling the memorable encounters he had with her and her family. He praised the family for establishing a foundation in her honour. One of the deceased’s children, Seni Adio, while speaking at the church, relived fond memories of their late mother, describing her as a caring mother and a disciplinarian, who lived a virtuous life. He cited an instance when, even on the sick bed and few days to her death, frowned at a dress worn by one of his siblings and insisted that she must change it. “Apart from the spiritual aspect of mum, she was very generous, hospitable and loving”, he said. Olufemi Awotesu, a member of the foundation’s board of trustees, who spoke for other members, explained what the foundation seeks to achieve. He added that the foundation was intended to honour God by assisting humanity. The Honourable Justice Busola Atinuke Ogunlesi-Adio Foundation, which intends to promote the growth of legal education and ecumenical choir, two areas which the deceased was passionate while alive, gave out five scholarship awards valued at about N400, 000. Three members of the choir of Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Sagamu and two female Law graduates, who graduated with First Class from the Nigerian Law School got the inaugural scholarship awards. The awardees include Motunrayo Opebiyi
•Justice Ogunlesi-Adio
and Opeyemi Dada (the two Law graduates); Adefolake Adesanya, Ayomide Ademowo, Oyewole Oyediran (members of the church’s choir). The foundation hopes to award three scholarships in subsequent years. One scholarship will go to a female law student of Ogun State origin, for the furtherance of her professional aspirations, while two choral scholarships will be awarded - one to a junior member and the other to an adult member of the choir of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.
•Chief Sofola (SAN) and Prince Ajibola (SAN)
•From right: Seni Adio, his wife, Solape and Mrs Kehinde Jibodu
•From left: Oba Sonariwo, Chief Alimi and Justice Olopade
• Justice Phillips
•Awardees: Miss Opebiyi and Miss Dada •PHOTOS: SOLOMON ADEOLA