Richard Akinjide, former Attorney-General, dies at 88

 

BY OUR REPORTER

Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Attorney General of the Federation, is dead.

He died in the early of hours of Tuesday, aged 88.

A family source told newsmen that Akinjide, Attorney General in the Second Republic, died on Tuesday morning at his Ibadan residence during a suspected age-related illness.

Mr Toye Akinrinlola, the Public Relations Officer of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, confirmed to newsmen that the former AG who played prominent role in the controversial twelve-two-third majority Supreme Court judgment that brought former President Shehu Shagari to power in 1979 was brought in dead at about 2.00 am on Tuesday.

His remains had since been deposited at the UCH morgue

Akinjide, an Ibadan high chief, attended Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife, in Osun State and passed out with a distinction (Aggregate 6).

He proceeded on his educational journey in the United Kingdom in 1951 and was called to the English Bar in 1955.

He was later called to the Nigerian Bar and he established Akinjide and Co legal firm.

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The late Akinjide was a Minister of Education in the First Republic during the government of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa and Minister of Justice in the Second Republic during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari.

The deceased was also a member of the Judicial Systems Sub-Committee of the Constitutional Drafting Committee of 1975 to 1977.

He joined the National Party of Nigeria in 1978 and became the legal adviser of the party.

(Additional report with NAN)