Not many people know about the man who gave VP Yemi Osinbajo his big break. Only few people know that it was Prince Abduljabbar Bolasodun Adesumbo Ajibola, the eminent jurist who died a few days ago, that helped his career grow as a Lawyer. We can tell you that for sure.
As a lawyer, along the line, his path had crossed with that of Prince Bola Ajibola who used to be a Judge at The International Court of Justice, at The Hague. They got along well. And he did a lot of work on International Arbitration for Prince Bola Ajibola. And when in 1985 that Ajibola became Minister for Justice, Prof. Osinbajo was invited to work with Ajibola as a Special Assistant. And it is from their close association that Osinbajo got the big break he needed to succeed in his career. And the rest is history.
Late Prince Ajibola admired his brilliance and hardwork. And Prof. helped the eminent jurist work on his papers and reports. Prof. excelled in the area of research as he would delve into tonnes and tonnes of Law books to extract what Prince Ajibola needed.
Prof Yemi Osinbajo revealed how late Prince Bola Ajibola gave him his big break. It was in a speech he delivered on BBHS. The topic of his speech was on Values:The Difference Between Success & Failures. He revealed that Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN) KBE was of the 1955 set of BBHS Old Boys. “I worked directly with him for 5 years. He was one time President of the NBA. He was one time Attorney General & Minister of Justice of the federation. He served as a Judge of the International Court of Justice of the World Court. He was also Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom. I was 30 years old when I was appointed Special Adviser to Prince Bola Ajibola, then AG and Minister of Justice. This was my 1st experience in Public Service. And in hindsight, it was my best introduction to Public Service.
Judge Ajibola was a man who had been tremendously successful as a Lawyer and arbitrator. He ended up being the NBA President. But let me mention 3 defining events that I experienced and witnessed whilst working with him as his adviser. The first was a situation where a foreign contractor who had won a very lucrative contract from the Federal Government, went to give Prince Ajibola’s son, who was in the University in England at that time, a car, a Golf car, brand new car. Prince Ajibola’s son contacted his father, that this person had sent a car to him. And I can never forget how angry he was. He was so angry that I had to calm him down, physically. I had to make him sit down physically because he was so angry. Not only was the gift returned, the contract of the man was reported to the government of his country. And I remember that his government had to make a special apology to our own government and to Prince Bola Ajibola. I remember that the man himself came to the Ministry to apologise to the Attorney-General for offering a bribe to him.
The 2nd incident, was a commercial aircraft that was arrested in Nigeria, for carrying drugs. The office of the AG of course was responsible for the arrest. I remember a successful lawyer, whose name I must not mention, claimed that he was acting as an intermediary for some interests who were somewhat connected to the aircraft. And they came to the Attorney-General, Prince Bola Ajibola to offer him a large sum of money, in foreign exchange. When I recall how Prince Bola Ajibola shouted at that Senior lawyer and ordered him out of his office, I still remember the shame and fear on the face of the man, in later years.
The 2 incidents showed that here was a man who believed that Public Service was Public Service and that bribes of any kind was completely unacceptable, whether it was Bribe or Thank you. And he set that very high standard, even then.
In later years, Bola Ajibola decided that his life’s worth will be the establishment of a University. He sold every property that he had in Lagos at the time and moved his home to Abeokuta here. He established the Crescent University with all the resources. And I know. He is somebody who confides in me a great deal. And today, he owns & runs that University and subsidizes most of his students, because as you know, University is not necessarily a lucrative thing. When I asked him: Why are you selling everything you have in Lagos to establish a University? He said, at the end of the day wealth means nothing if it does not positively impact the lives of others.
Who is this Prince Bola Ajibola? We can tell you a lot about him.
Which schools did he attend? We can tell you he attended Owu Baptist Day School, Ago-Owu, Abeokuta , Nigeria (1942 –1949), Baptist Boys’ High School, Oke Egunya, Abeokuta, Nigeria (1950–1955). He then went to Holborn College of Law, University of London (1959 – 1962), Council of Legal Education – Inns of Court London (1959 – 1962), Honourable Barrister-at-Law of Lincoln’s Inn, London. He was called to the Bar on 27 November 1962.
What are the international posts he held in his remarkable career? We can also tell you. He was President and Judge of the World Bank Administrative Tribunal (Washington D.C and London). He was an Arbitrator /Commissioner for the Boundary Dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea (EEBC) Chairman of the Nigerian Delegation, Cameroon / Nigeria Mixed Commission, set up to resolve the boundary dispute between the two countries after the International Court of Justice Judgment of 10 October 2002.
He was a Judge of the International Court of Justice, The Hague – 5 December 1991 to 5 February 1994, appointed judge Ad-Hoc in the case concerning the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria (Cameroon vs. Nigeria) 12 April 1994 – 10 October 2002.
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, (10 November 1999 – 8 March 2002).
He was a Judge of the Constitutional Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo): 1994 – 2001.
He was a member of the Panel of Commissioners of United Nations Compensation Commission set up to review the claim submitted by the Government of Kuwait and other Governments and Corporations against the Government of Iraq as a result of the Gulf War (Geneva), 1994 – 2000.
He was also a Member, Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague, Netherlands area.
He was a member of the Steering Committee of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague, Netherlands.
He was a member of the Governing Board of International Maritime Law Institute of The International Maritime Organisation (Malta).
He was a President of World Association of Judges of the World Jurist Association (Washington D.C)
Then are Arbitrator: Court of Arbitration for Sports: CAS Ad-Hoc Division for the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, 1998; Ad-Hoc Division for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. He was a President, Pan African Council of London Court of International Arbitration (1994 – 1999),
He was a member, International Law Commission, United Nations, Geneva, (1986 – 1991), Member International Court of Arbitration of the ICC, Paris (1975-1999). He was the Vice-Chairman; the Commission on International Arbitration, ICC, Paris. Member; International Maritime Arbitration Commission, Paris. He was a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (The Hague, Netherlands). He was a Member of Board of Directors of the International Development Law Institute (Rome). Fellow, Charted Institute of Arbitrators (London). He was a Member of the Editorial Advisory Board, University of Buckingham (England). Honourable Bencher of the Lincoln’s Inn. He was a Honorary Vice-President, Association of Arbitrators (Southern Africa).
He has held several posts in the legal profession and other areas. He was Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Federal Republic of Nigeria, 12 September 1985 – 4 December 1991. He was the President, Nigeria Bar Association, 1984-1985. He was the President, Association of Arbitrators of Nigeria, 1974-1999. He was Vice-Chairman, Body of Benchers, 1989-1990, Chairman, Body of Benchers 1990-1991. He became a Life Bencher-1991. He was Chairman, Disciplinary Committee of the Bar, 1985-1991. He was Chairman, General Council of the Bar, 1985-1991, Chairman, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, 1985-1991. He was Chairman, Advisory Committee of the Prerogative of Mercy (1989-1991). He was Chairman of the Task Force for the Revision of the Laws of the Federation, 1990.
Member, Nigeria Police Council 1989-1991, Member, Advisory Judicial Committee, 1985-1991, Member, Judicial Service Committee (Abuja), 1987-1991. Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, 1980-1984. Member of the Privileges Committee of the Bar responsible for Selection of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (equivalent to Queen’s Counsel in England) 1985-1991.
How about his professional experience, between 1962 and 1985? He was a Legal Practitioner for twenty-three years, mostly in Lagos and also in other parts of Nigeria. He was Principal Partner of Bola Ajibola & Co with Offices in Lagos, Ikeja, Abeokuta and Kaduna (Nigeria), 1967-1985.
He handled many cases from the lowest Courts (i.e. Magistrates and Customary Courts) to the highest Courts (i.e. Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria). He Defended the Surviving Crew in the Judicial Commission of Inquiry of the F28 Aircraft of the Nigerian Airways that crashed at Enugu on 28 November 1983. He appeared before the Scania Bus Commission of Inquiry in 1971 on behalf of one of the Petitioners. He handled some Arbitration matters for IATA in Kenya , Tanzania and Uganda, as sole Arbitrator.
He was appointed as Arbitrator in many Arbitration matters internationally, under the auspices of the International Court of Arbitration of ICC in Paris.
He also handled many arbitration matters in Nigeria
He has won many awards like Knight of the Order of the British Empire – from Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, May 1989 (KBE).
He was conferred with the Honourary Degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D) of the University of Buckingham by its Chancellor, the Rt. Hon. Baroness Margaret Thatcher of Kesteren, 24 February 1996.
He became Senior Advocate of Nigeria 1986 (SAN).
He was conferred with the Honourary Degree of Doctor of Letters (D. LIT.) of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto on Saturday 13 December 2003.
He was conferred with Honourary Degree of Doctor of Agriculture (D.Agric) of the University of Agriculture Abeokuta (UNAAB) on 27 January 2004.
He was conferred with Honorary Chieftaincy Title of Olu-omo (the paramount child) of Egbaland by His Royal Highness, the Alake of Egbaland and the entire Egba Community.
He was Life Member, Body of Benchers, Nigeria.
He got a Honorary Award of Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. He was the Recipient of 1986 Ogun State of Nigeria Outstanding Citizen Merit Award. Life Member Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. Grand Patron of the Nigerian Feminist Law Journal.
He was Academico Correspondiente, Academica Chilena De Ciecias Sociales Politicas Y Morales
– November 2000. Honorary Fellow of the Society for Advance Legal Studies.
He was made Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), Vice Patron and Trustee of Abeokuta Club, 2021, Vanguad Lifetime Award Achievement Award 2019, Grand Patron of Dekings’ Handball Academy, Seasoned Philanthropist by Medalinks Reporter Communication Group, Honourary Award by National Association of Kano State Students.
His other activities include being a member of a number of Social Clubs, including • Yoruba Tennis Club, Lagos • Abeokuta Club • Metropolitan Club • Club 5055, Baptist Boys High School (Old Boys) • Nieuwe of Literature Societeit de Witte, The Hague, Netherlands.
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