Acuitas Legal

Chief Obafemi Awolowo (March 6, 1909 - May 9, 1987) was a Nigerian lawyer, an influential advocate of independence, nationalism, and federalism. He played a vital role in the independence movement of Nigeria.

Obafemi Awolowo attended Baptist Boys High School (”BBHS”), Abeokuta and Wesley College Ibadan. Qualifying as a barrister at Inner Temple on November 18, 1946, he returned to Nigeria and established a successful legal practice. From 1947 until 1951, he was a solicitor and advocate of the Superior Court of Nigeria.

Obafemi Awolowo introduced free primary education and free health care in Western Nigeria and facilitated the building of Nigeria’s first stadium, Liberty Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. He also established the first television station in Africa.

He named Nigeria’s national currency as ‘Naira’ when he was the Federal Commissioner for Finance and he has been featured in the 100 Naira banknote since 1999. In recognition of his contribution to the Nigerian independence movement and development, the Federal Government of Nigeria renamed the University of Ife, to the Obafemi Awolowo University on May 12, 1987.

Chief Christopher Alexander Sapara Williams(14 July 1855 – 15 March 1915) was of Ijesha descent, but was born in Sierra Leone.

In 1871, he attended CMS Grammar School and thereafter proceeded to Wesley College, Sheffield, United Kingdom. Alexander Sapara-Williams obtained his law degree in London and was called to the English Bar on the 17th of November, 1879.

He returned to Nigeria on the 13th of January, 1888 to start up his practice in the then Lagos Colony. On the 30th of January, 1888, he enrolled as a member of the Nigerian Bar Association(”NBA”) and became the Chairman of the NBA from 1900 to 1915.

Alexander Sapara-Williams was among the conveners of the first inaugural meeting of the Lagos Auxiliary of the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society on 30th December, 1910, which gave Herbert Macaulay a platform for producing popular opposition to colonial practices.

He was an excellent lawyer, jurist, and advocate. He had an outstanding reputation as an advocate and had intimate knowledge of unwritten customary law.

Interesting Fact: He was the first Nigerian lawyer to be called to the English Bar.

Late Honourable Justice Dulcie Ethel Adunola Oguntoye (29 May 1923 - 12 November 2018) was an English-born Nigerian jurist. She was born at Gravesend, Kent, England, to English parents.

She served in the Royal Air force during World War II where she met her late husband, Chief David Ojo Abiodun Oguntoye. Shortly after the war, she enrolled at the Middle Temple Inns of Court.

She started her law practice in Nigeria after establishing the law firm of Oguntoye & Oguntoye in 1949 with her late husband. In 1961, she joined the Western Region Magistracy.

Late Hon. Justice Oguntoye served as Chief Magistrate in Lagos for 9 (Nine) Years before she was appointed a Judge of the Lagos State High Court in February,1976. She became the first woman on the bench of the High Court of Lagos State and the second woman to become a Judge in Nigeria.

In recognition of her service to Nigeria, Justice Oguntoye was awarded the national honor of Officer of the Federal Republic (‘‘OFR’’) in 1978 by the then Military Head of State- General Olusegun Obasanjo.

Interesting Fact: Justice Oguntoye sacrificed her British Passport and adopted her husband's country as her own.