Onagoruwa: A legal colossus has gone to sleep

By Mohammed Bello Adoke

I received the sad news of the demise of Dr. Olu Onogoruwa, SAN, a renowned human rights activist and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Dr. Onogoruwa was a quintessential gentleman groomed in the best traditions of the Bar. He was a consummate lawyer who used his talent in the service of humanity. It was this strong conviction and desire to serve and improve the lot of the people that propelled him to accept to serve in the military administration of Gen Sani Abacha, GCFR.

He certainly had no allusions as to the enormity of the task of being the vanguard for the protection of individual rights and liberties under a military regime. Yet, he was prepared to risk all, including his hard earned reputation, family and livelihood for an opportunity to make a difference in public office.  He demonstrated extra-ordinary courage in the face of imminent danger and daunting challenges and paid the price, which many public office holders were not prepared to make. Although, the overwhelming power of the State forced him to resign his position,it was glaring to every discerning mind that he preferred to resign his coveted position than compromise his principles.

It was these qualities that propelled me and the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, The Honourable Justice Alooma Mukhtar, GCON, to encourage him to apply for the rank Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a rank we believed was unjustifiably denied him when he was appointed Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice because of his principled stance against the establishment and government that appointed him to Office. I am therefore quite fulfilled that the Almighty Allah used me, Hon. Justice Alooma Mukhtar and indeed, the entire Members of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) as a vessel to redress this wrong by his elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

I therefore join millions of his well-wishers and the entire legal community in extending my deepest condolences to his family for this irreparable loss. I urge them to take solace in the fact that he lived a good life, served God and humanity diligently and faithfully and he is now resting in the bosom of the Lord.

Adoke, SAN, was minster of justice and attorney-general of the federation (2010-2015)