Chief Richard Akinjide, SAN, and Former Attorney-General and Chief Justice of Nigeria, was born in Ibadan, on November 4, 1930 and passed away at the age of 88 on April 21, 2020.
Mr Toye Akinrinlola, The Public Relations Officer of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, said the late Attorney General was brought in dead at about 2 am on Tuesday
Chief Richard Akinjide, was one of the oldest Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and a legal icon, died of complications from a protracted illness around 1 am, had been sick for three years.
He attended Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife in Osun State and passed out with a distinction (Aggregate 6). The Senior Advocate of Nigeria proceeded on his educational journey to the United Kingdom in 1951 and was called to the English Bar in 1955. He was later called to the Nigerian Bar and established Akinjide and Co., a legal firm.
He was a Minister of Education in the first republic, under Alhaji Tafawa Balewa and Minister of Justice in the second republic, during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari.
Following the news of Akinjide’s death, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan, and others on Tuesday, commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State.
President Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, described Chief Akinjide as an illustrious son.
The statement read, “President Buhari condoles with family members, friends, professional and political associates of the legal icon, who made remarkable impact on the country as Minister of Education in the First Republic, Minister of Justice and Attorney General in the Second Republic, and member of Judicial Systems Sub-committee of the Constitutional Drafting Committee from 1975 to1977.
“The President joins the Olubadan of Ibadan, Nigerian Bar Association and the entire judiciary in mourning the legal luminary, affirming that he used his rich experience and knowledge in serving the country and humanity.”
Chief Obasanjo in a condolence message, which was made available to newsmen through his media aide, Mr Kehinde Akinyemi, on Tuesday, described Chief Akinjide, saying, “The life of Chief Akinjide is really a testimony of great service built on hard work to his community, profession and fatherland.
“Chief Akinjide was a titan in the study and practice of the law as is evident from a stellar career spanning almost the entire spectrum of the legal profession.
“His life as a most cerebral legal luminary, a profound thinker, a well-informed writer, an astute administrator and a die-hard patriot and democrat, were most inspiring.”
Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, in a condolence message to the Akinjide family and people of Oyo State, according to a statement by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, said, “I commiserate with the Akinjide family and the government and people of Oyo State on the death of elder statesman, Chief Richard Akinjide.
“He was a forthright jurist and politician who served Nigeria meritoriously as Minister of Education and Attorney General of the Federation at different political eras. As a patriot and legal icon, he worked to improve the nation’s jurisprudence.”
