Bamidele Aturu, ‘the Gentle Tiger’, dies a day to court appearance in Akwa Ibom

Human rights lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, has died at the age of 49 ─ a day to appearing in a court case in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The activist came into national limelight in 1988 when he refused to shake the hands of the military governor at the passing-out parade of the National Youth Service Corps.

Aturu, nicknamed “Gentle Tiger”, studied law at the Obafemi Awolowo University and did his NYSC in Niger State in 1987/88.

The then governor of the state, Lt. Col. Lawan Gwadabe, extended a handshake to him at the parade ground but Aturu turned it down, accusing the military of being anti-democratic.

His NYSC certificate was withheld as punishment for “embarrassing” the military government, but it was subsequently released to him.

He spent his law career fighting for human rights and offering pro-bono services to the lowly and the poor.

Aturu, TheCable learnt, had on Wednesday morning asked a member of his staff to check in his luggage for his flight to Uyo for his court appearance tomorrow.

He later called the member of staff to complain of feeling unwell ─ by which time he was said to be in “bad shape”.

He eventually slumped and was taken to the hospital, where he died moments after seeing the doctor.

His death was confirmed by Debo Adeniran, his colleague and chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL).