When you talk about a Nigerian jurist, who has diligently served Nigeria with all his heart and who is truthful despite all odds, Justice Adesola George Oguntade’s name would be mentioned.
Even, President Muhammed Buhari, who is referred to as “Seriki Gaskiya” (a truthful man) in the North testified to this in his glowing tributes to the Nigerian High Commissioner to United Kingdom Justice Adesola Oguntade.
He clocked 80th, on 11th of March, 2020, and many Nigerians have not stopped saying good things about My Lord.
Not many know that President Muhammed Buhari and Justice Adesola Oguntade have come a long way. Their friendship dates back to over 20years and this was revealed in Buhari’s tribute to Justice Adesola Oguntade.
In Buhari’s words: “The High Commissioner earned his respect while serving at the Supreme Court before his retirement in 2010 by the way he conducted himself with virtue, honesty and conviction to do the right thing. The president, in his letter to the jurist, was quoted saying: “What a sterling character.
“A man with the courage of his conviction, a jurist of the puritan kind and a great patriot.
“Justice Oguntade, Nigeria Commissioner to United Kingdom is a man who made a name and a reputation in his chosen career of legal practice. No wonder, he rose to the very peak, retiring as a justice of the Supreme Court.
“To be an outstanding Jurist of the Supreme Court, you must be ready to be different, even if it means standing alone. I will never forget my legal challenge of the presidential election of 2007. It was such a disorderly chaotic and badly manipulated polls that the man declared winner, Umar Musa Yar’Adua himself admitted the process was highly flawed.
“However the Supreme Court in its judgment upheld the election except for a minority position maintained by 3 Justices led by Justice Oguntade.
“He nullified the polls for not complying with the Electoral Act. It was a split of four against 3. You don’t have too many like this great jurist anymore.
“He was not afraid to stand alone, when it came to upholding the truth”, he revealed.
The justice, who rarely grants interviews, a few days ago spoke to Channels Television on a programme entitled. “Newsnight” on his Life at 80. He spoke about how he has served in virtually all the states, his life as a young boy and how he never wanted to be a judge. Read on. You were the Nigerian High Commissioner to one of the most prominent nations in the world because of Nigeria’s Traditional relationship with Britain, how do you find working with the opposite number British side of the establishment?
Well, from time to time, we are always at meetings and conferences together and they are always inviting us to one thing or the other, so that we could meet on certain matters. It is quite a good relationship.
You are one of the ambassadors appointed by President Buhari, how was that experience like?
He deals with me with love, and I give him adequate respect commensurate with his position.
Can you enlighten us on the key lessons life as taught you in the last 80 years?
In the last 80 years? Well, in the beginning, that my education was in London, I was a young man that enjoyed life. In my student days, we were always playing rough, but at the end of the Day, God intervened in my life. I was able to do my degree with honours. I came out with honours. For a rascal, who was always at the bookshop and people wondered how I was able to do that. More than that, I made good friends, as a student, although many of them had passed on and when you remember you still have memories of them, you wished they were alive because they were really dear friends. Going back home from there coincided with going back home for most lawyers. It was from there they formed a friendship of all types.
I didn’t want to be a Judge, I wanted to make money at the Bar but because of the pressure that people of Epe brought on me saying you must represent us. They like to boast and that encouraged me to aspire for bigger things in my career. I enjoyed myself a lot. I have learnt hard things and I have learnt how to avoid problems and that when you mastered it, it makes you become wiser. You will know where you should keep quiet, you keep quiet, when you should say much, you say much. It would have affected your life in various ways.
Looking ahead, are you going to write a book?
I will try, you know when you reach 80, the brain is not as sharp as it used to be. I will make an attempt.
Can you talk about your career as a jurist, your career at the church and your career as an ambassador, do they have a correlation and are they joined in your mind?
That is a religious question well. I started living with my uncle, who was a teacher. He imposed discipline on me and I abided with the teaching of a teacher and that imbibed discipline in me for years. In the Bar, I saw the strength & weaknesses of the Bar. Some Lawyers sometimes annoyed me, some I could forgive, some I couldn’t forgive. Well, may God decide who is right or wrong? During the end of judicial time, I could look back and say I enjoyed my time. I saw virtually every part of the country. I have served in virtually all the states in Nigeria. Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, virtually everywhere in the country, so I can boast and say I know my country very well.
Serving everywhere, what does that tell you about us?
Well, we are Christians and it encourages us to rejoice every step we take and be careful in next step. We must learn every time.
What would be your advice to Nigerians?
In the broad sense, you could say you pray for Nigeria, but more directly that my children and relations follow the right path of life. The path that will give encouragement to the country Nigeria.
-Abiola Orisile
