BREAKING – National Loss As Chief Akinjide, Former AGF Is Dead

BY CAMI EZENWA

News reaching indicated that Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide, is dead,aged 88.

The Eagle correspondent learnt that respected lawyer passed on at his Ibadan residence, the Oyo State capital, early this morning after a protracted illness.

It will be recalled that he had been sick for about three years now.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the late Akinjide is a respected Nigeian, one of those who have helped in raising the bar of law practice in the county.

This brought accolades and recognitions his way including chieftaincy honours.

Born in Ibadan, in the early 1930s to an influential family of warriors, he attended Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife in Osun State and passed out with a distinction

He proceeded to the United Kingdom in 1951 and was called to the English Bar in 1955.

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

In terms of national recognition, he was a Minister of Education in the first republic, under Alhaji Tafawa Balewa and Minister of Justice in the second republic, during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari.

Akinjide was a member of the judicial systems sub-committee of the Constitutional Drafting Committee of 1975-1977 and later joined the National Party of Nigeria in 1978, and became the legal adviser to the party.

While serving as the Attorney General of the Federation, Nigeria temporarily reversed the executions of armed robbers.

He was the lead prosecutor in the treason trial of Bukar Zanna Mandara; the eviction of many illegal foreign nationals from Nigeria which contributed to mild violence against some foreigners in the land.

His remains have reportedly been deposited in the morgue pending final burial arrangements by the family and other authorities.