By Shola Oshunkeye
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
– Proverbs 22:29 (King James Bible)
If he were the huffing and puffing kind, a mere man that brags and crows about anything and everything, he would have sounded the bugle so loud it would have been heard in virtually every corner of the continent. Even if he had chosen to say it loud, nobody would have asked: what’s all this about?
Though a legal titan, though a man of no mean repute, a man whose status and achievements tower above many in his profession as well as other life endeavours, Asiwaju Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, does not dwell in self-glorification. He is not a self-publicist who loves to blow his own trumpet.
That was why the day, Thursday, July 8, 2022, almost passed unnoticed. But for his admirers who blew the lid and celebrated him with a deluge of tributes and eulogies meant for royals and legends. Yet, the day was a milestone many would have killed many cows and thrown wild parties to celebrate.
It was the day Asiwaju Awomolo clocked 44 years at the Bar and 30 years at the Inner Bar. Big as the day was, he celebrated quietly with his God, beloved family, and dedicated staff members in his law firm, Adegboyega and Associates, Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja. He has headed the Chambers for over 40 years and trained over 250 legal practitioners who are shinning like a thousand stars in their career paths. Today, many of them are Judges, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, corporate giants, captains of industries, all making their marks both within and outside the country.
For his mammoth contributions to the development of legal jurisprudence, promotion of law and justice in Nigeria and for all Nigerians, regardless of status, creed, tongue or tribe; for his monumental contributions to humanity, especially his beneficence and philanthropy, The Crest, today, celebrates Asiwaju Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo, S.A.N.
Born to Pa Jacob Dare and Mama Felicia Asimawu Awomolo on Friday, September 17, 1947 at Orile-Ilogun in Egba Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, the legal luminary hails from Igbajo in Boluwaduro Local Government Area of Osun State.
A versatile and amiable gentleman, Awomolo had his early education at St. James’ Primary School, Orile-Ilogun, between 1955 and 1960, before proceeding to the Egba Odeda Anglican Secondary School (modern school) from 1961 to 1963. He attended Bamiyowa Evening School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, where he studied and obtained the University of London General Certificate of Education, both ordinary and advanced levels.
He studied Law at then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, between 1974 and 1977; and attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, in 1978. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978.
In addition to his legal education, Awomolo, a devout Christian and preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, attended the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho, between 2003 and 2004, where he obtained a Diploma Certificate.
A Life Bencher, Church Usher, Life Member of Full Gospel Business Men Fellowship, Eminent Chapter, Gwarinpa, Abuja; and Volunteer Legal Adviser to the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Awomolo had a unique and diverse work experience.
He started his working life with a firm of civil engineers, builders and contractors, Abdullahi and Awomolo Nigeria Limited, between 1965 and 1967, where he served at various building locations, including the University of Ibadan, as site assistant, records and stock keeper, among others.
He enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force, Signals Section, in 1967 and served till 1972. From there, he worked in several other places in Ibadan, Ijebu-Ode and Enugu, then in the East Central Region. He had a stint with the CSS Bookshop Limited, Ibadan, between 1972 and 1974, as sales representative covering Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States respectively. He did his National Youth Service with the Kwara State Ministry of Justice, Ilorin, between 1978 and 1979 as a State Counsel.
After National Service, he became a Prosecutor in the Office of the Public Prosecutor under the late Alhaji S.B.A. Laaro, and Alhaji Saka Yusuf, later the Honourable Judge of Kano State, and Chief Judge of Kwara State. He also acted as counsel defending less privileged and indigent defendants in the Legal Aid Council, Kwara State, where he traversed Ilorin, Lokoja, Okene and New Busa Judicial Divisions.
Between 1979 and 1983, Asiwaju Awomolo worked in the esteemed law firm of Tunji Arosanyin and Company in Ilorin, and traversed several jurisdictions in several states of Nigeria. He supervised the design and construction of Destiny Building on Wahab Folawiyo Road, Ilorin, and moved the Chambers into the new structure.
Always thirsty for new challenges, Awomolo would foray into the academia, working briefly as a lecturer at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. He would later be appointed a part-time lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin.
Finally, he opened his law chambers, Adegboyega Awomolo and Co (Mosaic Chambers) at the popular Owoniboys House, 159, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Ilorin.
It won’t be too long before the world would notice the young Awomolo’s diligence at the Temple of Justice as he was appointed the first Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Osun State, between 1992 and 1993.
A Rotarian, Awomolo, who was installed the Asiwaju of Igbajo land in 2015, has many professional merits, awards and endorsements to his name. He was General Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ilorin Branch (1980-1981), Member, National Executive Committee of the NBA (NEC) (1987-2016), Chairman, NBA, Ilorin Branch (1990-1992), and Member, Council for Legal Education (1992-1993).
The respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria was appointed Life Member, Body of Benchers, by then Chief Justice of the Federation, the Hon. Justice Mohammed Bello. He has been Member, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria since 1992. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of Nigeria, and Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, the Ilorin Branch of the NBA, in 2016, appointed Awomolo Member, Board of Trustees, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, a position he holds till date.
Awomolo has handled many cases of national and international repute, all the way to the Supreme Court either as Defence Lawyer of Federal Government-appointed prosecutor. These are in addition to Presidential and Governorship election petitions, as well as many civil and criminal cases.
“Most of his cases have helped to develop and shape the face of legal jurisprudence in Nigeria as his arguments often highlighted fine points of law,” said a verse in a eulogy during the celebration of his 70th birthday in 2017.
In 2014, national assignment beckoned Awomolo as then President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan appointed him as Constitutional and Legal Consultant to the National Conference convened by his administration. Though neither Jonathan nor his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, implemented the report, many knowledgeable Nigerians believe the report contains solutions to some of the problems that currently beset Nigeria.
Similarly, Awomolo was, for six years (2011-217), the Lead Consultant to the National Electoral Commission, INEC. With five Senior Advocates of Nigeria and over 50 lawyers under him, he and his team traversed the country, representing INEC, winning most of the cases for the electoral umpire. His contributions, those versed in the workings of the electoral body insist that his contributions account to the stability and credibility of the electoral process in Nigeria.
A consummate family man, Asiwaju Awomolo is happily married to Chief Mrs. Victoria Olufunmilayo Awomolo, the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, produced by the University of Ibadan. Despite her exceptional erudition and brilliance in legal practice, Chief Mrs. Awomolo, an alumnus of the legendary Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa, Osun State, never started life as a lawyer.
A graduate of Chemistry from the University of Benin, she was a Chemistry teacher at the Queen Elizabeth College, Ilorin, before she met her husband who encouraged her to take a degree in Law. So, she headed for the University of Ibadan. Today, the former chemistry teacher is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and a worthy ambassador of Ilesa Grammar School where she graduated in 1974.
Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo and his delectable wife are blessed with four God-fearing children and grandchildren.
Asiwaju Awomolo is the initiator and chairman of the Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo Education Foundation, ASASEF. He is also a co-founder of the Solomon and Victoria Foundation, forest conservation, and care giver for the old and disadvantaged people in society.
Though the Awomolos celebrated their patriarch’s 44 years at the Bar and 30 years at the Inner Bar quietly, they sang profuse praises to God for how far He has led them; for being their help in ages past, and hope for a more glorious future.
Despite the low-key celebration, many still popped Champagne and raised a toast for the Asiwaju whom they described as a superstar in Nigeria’s legal firmament.
Asiwaju reciprocated the good gesture with a thank-you note that he personally issued to people who celebrated him on his big day. The legal icon wrote:
I am extremely grateful for the demonstration of love in celebrating my unforgettable days in my Legal career. I pray that my joy be full and that I do not diminish in spirit, in goodness and receiving the favours of God and of man.
May God reward your kindness and love. I am short of words to express my gratitude.
God bless you and all yours
Asiwaju Adegboyega S. Awomolo, SAN
Indeed, Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. (Proverbs 22: 29)
Once again, The Crest joins the teeming millions celebrating Asiwaju Awomolo, to say a big congratulation to the proud son of Nigeria.
