A tribute to Akinboyejo Akinola

Akinboyejo Akinola(a.k.a. ‘‘Akarigbo’’) was one of the best intellectual property lawyers in Nigeria, building up his legal practice in Abuja. In a life of good fortune, he valued above all the gracious gift of his wife and children and had time for anybody that came his way. The shock and pain of his passage on the ill-fated Bellview flight of the 22nd of October will remain forever with us who met and knew him. I have no doubt like most of us ordinary mortals; he had plans for the future. Even if we ordinary beings find it difficult to understand why he was taken away from us so soon, God surely had better plans for him.

I met Akarigbo, for the first time in the early 1974, when I was called for what was then the traditional 3days interview of the famous Government College Ibadan (GCI). Like most boys competing to be admitted to this famous and competitive school in Western Nigeria. We did not have much to say to each other during the interview, although I thought he had a bit of confidence during the interview, compared to some of us struggling to adjust to the traditional test we had to go through then. Probably because he had an older brother attending the school then, but I later realized as we passed through GCI and our interactions that Akarigbo’s greatest gift was his confidence, and it was a gift he used wisely. This confidence is what underpinned all his other wonderful attributes. And if we look to analyze what it was about him that had such a wide appeal, we find it in his instinctive feel for what was really important in all our lives.  The Confidence to be heard; Confidence to speak for others; but most important the Confidence to make others feel important even if they are weak.  This was Akinboyejo Akinola at his best.

After GCI, we only saw each other occasionally, but like most old GCI students there are strong bonds that keep us all together. Akarigbo was a traditional GCI boy who would do anything to protect any other GCI boy-what those that did not attend GCI would refer to as old boys’ network but what I called the GCI magic. On returning from the UK and trying to settle down in Abuja he did everything to ensure that my re-adjustment back into Nigeria will not be another case of Johnny Just Come, as he understood the misery of adapting for a returning resident. Interestingly enough the first time I went to his chambers-there was another old student lamenting about his experiences since his return to Nigeria. In Akarigbo’s typical manner he was receptive and full of encouragement because he had experienced the same feeling after returning from US.

The clarity and intensity of Akinboye’s convictions can be seen in his passion for his profession. He loved law and lived law, I was lucky to experience this during one of my occasional visit to his law chambers. There was a particular day I visited his chambers, having been used to the fact that he had a rare talent of entertaining you and preparing a case at the same time. He practically forced me to spend more time with him by ensuring that i followed him to a police station to secure the release of a client. I had to wait in his car for over two hours while he secured the release of a man he believed was being cheated. By the time I thought I had enough for the day. I was to become his emergency clerk on our way back to his chambers, after he met another old colleague, who in-turn was lamenting about something I had no interest whatsoever, as I was hungry - all I could remember in their conversation was ‘Don’t let anybody cheat you, I would ensure we take them to court’. That was Akarigbo the man that matched an optimistic temperament with bold persistent action. By the time he treated me to lunch or mid-evening dinner I almost became a legal expert on how to fight a legal battle for the underprivileged.

The last time I saw Akarigbo was Friday the 14th of October, when I had to meet him, in-between attending to clients and telling me about his involvement in his church’s harvest committee, like childish friends we were both cracking jokes, and at the same time he was mentoring a young man in the law school whose father attends his church. The young man was puzzled as I was telling Akarigbo that I wonder how he made it as a lawyer, he was just laughing- that was my friend and I thank God that I will cherish that last moment forever.
 
Akarigbo, belongs to the ages now, but we preferred it when he belongs to us. Now, death has done all that death can do, while we are left with the joyful hope he shared. Now he sees his Saviour face to face. And we look to that fine day when we will see him again, all weariness gone, clear of mind, strong and sure, and smiling again, and the sorrow of his parting gone forever.

May God bless Akinboyejo Akinola my friend in heaven!

Robot  # 1 | 12.11.2005 05:55

A tribute to Akinboyejo AkinolaAkinboyejo Akinola(a.k.a. ‘‘Akarigbo’’) was one of the best intellectual property lawyers in Nigeria, building up his legal practice in Abuja. In a life of good fortune, he valued above all the gracious Read the full article.