Dr. Muritala Abdul-Rasheed, SAN, has paid glowing tribute to Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, in celebration of his remarkable fifty-year journey at the Nigerian Bar, describing his career as a legacy of excellence, leadership, and enduring service to the legal profession. The tribute marks Chief Olanipekun’s Golden Jubilee at the Bar.

Describing the milestone as one worthy of national celebration, Dr. Abdul-Rasheed praised Chief Olanipekun’s immense contributions to the development of the legal profession and the administration of justice in Nigeria.

A GOLDEN TOAST TO CHIEF WOLE OLANIPEKUN, CFR, SAN, IN CELEBRATION OF AN EVENTFUL FIFTY YEARS AT THE BAR

There are lawyers. There are advocates. There are leaders at the Bar. And then, by the rarest providence of history, there emerge a few exceptional figures whose lives become inseparable from the evolution of the legal profession itself. Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, belongs unmistakably to that distinguished class. This quintessential Bar leader, who is also an elder statesman, has, in the past, been applauded for his services to humanity outside the legal profession, essentially in areas such as charity, philanthropy, educational interventions, community development, healthcare delivery, scholarship awards, youth empowerment, etc. I deem it fit, as one of his mentees whose life and career he has also positively impacted, to pen this laudatory appraisal of a very cherished mentor, role model and father figure.

Some years back, this living legend, as a host of lawyers describehim, called me and swiftly admonished me thus: “Murray, enough of Bar politics for you; you have all it takes to be a successful lawyer and to take the Silk. Stop practising Bar politics. Enough of that; aim for what matters most in the profession; prepare yourself to take the Silk.” I was very sober when our ‘Oga’ (as we sometimes call him, and, at times, nowadays, also call him ‘Baba’) thundered these words, which I interpreted as a command. I must confess that I was not only appreciative of his intervention in my career, but also decided, without any reservation, to adhere to his admonition. Lo and behold, I reassessed myself and my career, and started in earnest the preparation to take the Silk, which, to the glory of God, materialised in 2021. Today, I bear eloquent testimony to the fact that he was one of those who propelled meand through whom I was reawakened.

While I was narrating my encounter with this delectable leader to one of our late colleagues, Mr. Charles Mafua, then a member of the NBA, Kaduna Branch, he burst into spontaneous excitement at the mention of the name ‘Wole Olanipekun’ and, without allowing me to ask the reason for this delight, kick-started his own experience with him, gleefully introducing himself as one of his disciples, an ardent supporter of his when he was campaigning for the office of President of the NBA in 2002, and stating that he had a very chummy and productive relationship with him, not just during his tenure as President of the NBA between 2002 and 2004, but thereafter. To Mr. Mafua, he was at the peak of his surprise when, sometime in 2016, he received a telephone call from the learned Silk and, after the exchange of pleasantries, was requested to send to his office the name and details of any relation or acquaintance of his for inclusion in his Scholarship Award Scheme of that year, which also marked the commemoration of the Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme, which debuted in 1996. According to Mr. Mafua, he quickly sent the name and details of his nominee, and a handsome scholarship award was sent to that person’s account by the Scholarship Board. Mr. Mafua subsequently informed me that that thoughtful gesture was not restricted to him but was also extended to all associates, friends and allies of the esteemed Chief, as others who were, and are, close to him were contemporaneously called by him to send in their nominees. They included, but were not limited to, Chief R. A. Lawal-Rabana, SAN, Mrs. Toyin Adegoke (now Justice Toyin Adegoke), Mr. Bayo Adelodun, SAN,Dr. (now Professor) Ogugua Ikpeze, Mrs. Tess Okeke, Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN, Hon. Justice Biodun Adebara, Hon. Justice AlabaOmoleye-Ajileye, Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, Chief NiyiAkintola, SAN, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, Dr. Gani Adeniran, Paul Chukwuma Ekwulom, SAN, and Chief Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo, SAN.

It is common knowledge that this legal icon not only built, equipped and donated a Bar Centre to the NBA, Ikere Branch in 2014, but also paid the practising fees of all the lawyers in the Branch, irrespective of their standing at the Bar, for the first five years. Further, he donated an 18-seater bus to them, while taking full responsibility for all their functions, including their biennialLaw Week programmes, public lectures, etc. Just contiguous to the Bar Centre, he also built, equipped and donated to the Ekiti State Judiciary, Ikere Judicial Division, a magnificent High Court Complex in 2023. I am also very familiar with the fact that, during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, he extended palliatives, in cash and kind, to a good number of the NBA Branches in the South-West, including Lagos, Ikeja, Ibadan, Ilorin, Ikere, Ado-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti, Akure, Ondo, Ile-Ife, Osogbo etc.

While celebrating his 20th year at the Inner Bar in 2011, he inaugurated two endowments for young lawyers in the NBA Lagos Branch and the NBA Ilorin Branch, almost contemporaneously with the unveiling of his seminal treatise titled “Voice of Law and Social Change”, Volumes 1 and 2. Lagos Branch converted the endowment funds to the procurement of 100 computer sets, which were later distributed to young lawyers within the Branch at a ceremony presided over by that matriarch of the Bar, Mrs. H. A. Balogun, OON, while the Ilorin Branch deployed its own fund to the purchase of seven vehicles, which were distributed among seven lucky young lawyers within the Branch. Mr. Taiwo Taiwo(later Justice Taiwo Taiwo) was the Chairman of Lagos Branch then, while Salman Jawondo, SAN, was the Chairman of Ilorin Branch. I understand that the learned Chief does not know any of the beneficiaries. Being an active Bar man, I am seized of the fact that, as far back as 2008, when the late Mr. Bolarinwa was the Chairman of NBA Lagos Branch, the respected Bar Patriarch donated five tons of cement to the NBA Lagos Branch as his humble starting contribution to the take-off of the Branch’s Bar Centre. What happened thereafter is not to my knowledge.

As President of the NBA between 2002 and 2004, his administration recorded many firsts, including the inauguration of the flagship Sections of the Association, namely, the Section on Business Law and the Section on Legal Practice; the incorporation of the NBA as an Incorporated Trustee under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act; the debut of the Nigerian Night at the IBA Conference in Durban, South Africa, in 2002; the introduction of the ‘State of the Nation’ item on the NEC agenda; and the introduction of the Stamp and Seal Scheme, which was launched by Hon. Justice M. L. Uwais, GCON, (then Chief Justice of Nigeria, in Ilorin in 2004). The administration of Okey Wali, SAN, later activated the Scheme and presented it in the form in which it exists today. Other notable achievements include the publication of the eighth editions of the NBA Journal under the editorship of Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, SAN, and the introduction of the ‘President’s Night’ at the NBA Annual Conference in Enugu in 2003, among others.

While this legal potentate has creditably played his part, and continues to so do, at the national level, where he has served, among others, as NBA President, member of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee from 1998 to 2002, member of the National Judicial Council, Acting Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Member of the General Council of the Bar, Bencher since 1992, Life Bencher since 2007, and Chairman of the Body of Benchers between 2022 and 2023, I cannot do justice to this tribute without saying a few words about his voluminous contributions to the legal profession at the regional level. 

Apart from being the Chairman of the NBA Ilorin Branch between 1987 and 1989, he served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of the old Ondo State between 1991 and 1992, memberof the Ondo State Judicial Service Commission, and Chairman of the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy between 1992and 1993.

It is commonplace that Egbe Amofin now serves as the umbrella body under which all lawyers of South-West/Yoruba extraction find refuge within the NBA structure. However, many people do not appreciate the fact that the idea of creating this umbrella body was initiated by some eminent patriarchs of the profession from the South-West, including the late Chief Debo Akande, SAN, the late Chief Idowu Sofola, SAN, the late Chief Dele Aiku, SAN, the late Chief Adigun Ogunseitan, Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, and Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.

Today, the Egbe represents, champions, defends, and protects the interests of all lawyers within the Zone. Delightfully, this scion of the Bar tells everyone who cares to listen about the avalanche of battles the Egbe has fought and won for its people, and also recalls, through storytelling, the spartan discipline, fidelity to a common heritage, respect for elders, and the exchange of sympathy and empathy, among others, that used to be the hallmarks of the Egbe.

In the same vein, he usually reels out the list of leading members of the Egbe who have benefitted from its sponsorship to national offices since its debut. They include, among others, Prince Tokunbo Kayode, CON, SAN, Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, Prince Lanke Odogiyon, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, Dele Adesina, SAN,Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN, Mr. (now Justice) Taiwo Taiwo, Chief R. A. Lawal-Rabana, SAN (from Ilorin), Ashafa Sanusi, Jussty Erahabor, Adetutu Chiyanbola, Adekunle Ojo, SAN, OlumuyiwaAkinboro, SAN, Olufunmilayo Oluyede, Prince Adekunle Ajasa,Ms. Folake Abiodun, Oluwole Akintokunbo, Bisi Ayeni, Mas’ud Alabelewe, Olatunji Nasir Salawu, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, Dr. R. O. Balogun, SAN (Kwara State), Dr. (now Professor) Foluke Dada, Mr. Dare Akande, Mrs. Banke Victoria Olagbegi-Oloba, Debo Adeyemo, Adesina Adegbite, Akorede Habeeb Lawal,and Bolaji Idris Ojibara (from Kwara State).

Whenever our eminent ‘Oga’ is teased as to why he is so passionate about, and concerned with, Egbe Amofin, he responds with parables about what went on in the collective minds of the leaders who initially came together to form the Egbe, and who were later joined by very eminent sons and daughters of Yorubaland, including the late Chief Bola Ajomole, the late Chief Emmanuel Abiodun, Chief Niyi Akintola, CON, SAN, Chief (Mrs.) Priscilla Kuye (First Female President of NBA), Professor John Oluwole Akintayo, Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN, Chief R. A. Lawal-Rabana, SAN, Mr. Taiwo Taiwo (now Hon. Justice), Mrs. Toyin Adegoke (now Hon. Justice), who served as pioneer Treasurer for years; Ranti Ajeleti, who served as pioneer Secretary for years; Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN, Honourable Kunle Adeyemi, Chief AyodeleAdebayo; Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN; Aare Isiaka BiolaOlagunju, Prince Tunji Oso, SAN; and Prince Suyi Olateru-Olagbegi (later Justice).

He would further wax philosophical by making reference to several achievements of the Egbe, including the restoration of the Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School after General Sani Abacha relocated the Law School from Lagos to Abuja. However, he willquickly and honestly add the rider that Chief Mrs. H. A. Balogun, OON, led the battle and struggle, while the Egbe stoically supported her. Additionally, in nostalgia, he would also reel out the names of prominent members of the Egbe, who, through the encouragement and assistance of the Egbe have advanced to the High Court as well as the Court of Appeal Bench.

Reflecting, this legal juggernaut would express his worries, concerns, premonitions, and trepidations about what is going on in the Egbe today. To him, he cannot deny the Egbe or distance himself from the young men who now run its affairs because, in his view, doing so would amount to a betrayal and an act of cowardice. In his opinion, leadership entails a great deal of sacrifice, discipline, doggedness, forthrightness, courage, and forbearance.

Corroborating the foremost Silk’s contributions to the evolution and sustenance of the Egbe, Chief Niyi Akintola, CON, SAN, wouldalways readily narrate how the Ikirun, Ogbomoso, and Oyo Branches of the NBA were formed, explaining how the ‘Leader’ (as Chief Niyi Akintola, CON, SAN, fondly calls him) placed calls to him at midnights, directing him to travel to each of the three towns and mobilise lawyers to assemble and sign documents for the respective applications of the Branches, with instructions that Chief Niyi Akintola, CON, SAN, should underwrite all the expenses.

To Justice Toyin Adegoke, the legal colossus was substantially responsible for providing funds for the take-off and sustenance of the Egbe. She constantly reminds those of us who joined later of how the revered Chief provided the first N100,000 seed fund in 2000, following a passionate appeal made by the late Lai Adegboye (from Offa, Kwara State), when the Egbe had no funds at all.

In the Law Week programme of the 2026 Annual Law Week of the NBA Okitipupa Branch, held on April 8, 2026, it was written of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, thus: “Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, … graciously gave birth to the NBA Okitipupa Branch when, at the 1987 Kaduna NEC of the NBA, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, moved the motion for the recognition and registration of the NBA Okitipupa Branch.”

In a similar vein, at the unveiling of the NBA Ondo Branch Bar Centre, donated to the Branch by Tayo Oyetibo, SAN on 22nd May, 2026, it was also said of this legal behemoth thus: “…The NBA Ondo Branch was formally registered in 2001 during the administration of O. C. J. Okocha, SAN, as NBA President, with Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, playing a highly instrumental role in its emergence…”

This legal pathfinder believes that “charity begins at home”, and that no one can justifiably claim patriotism towards Nigeria without maintaining the requisite fidelity to his birthplace. Undoubtedly, our cherished leader has seen almost everything. He has elaboratelycovered the field in the legal profession, having been in an uninterrupted legal practice for the past fifty years, except for the two years during which he served as the Attorney-General of Ondo State. Of these productive fifty years, thirty-five eventful years have been spent at the Inner Bar.

Unrestrained and unrelenting, he has continued to move from one superior court to another, even now, as he approaches the age of 75. According to him, he enjoys the legal profession maximally and finds the advocacy aspect of it both thrilling and enthralling. Still,according to him, apart from God and family, Law Practice is his orbit, his natural habitat, his forte, as well as his opium. He regards law as a vocation, a profession, an exercise, a tonic, a lubricator, and mental yoga. In his words, “while I am slowing down, I still personally settle some processes, remain actively involved in the preparation of briefs, and write my speeches for the various lectures and keynote addresses that I deliver from time to time.”To him, he is a product of divine grace, and he never ceases to give thanks and glory to God for the manner in which He has guided and sustained him, particularly in the legal profession and, more generally, in the journey of life.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Mediators and Conciliators; a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; and also a Visiting Professor of Legal Practice, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), being the first person to be so appointed by any university in Nigeria, closely followed by another legal icon, Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, by the same University.

Five Nigerian Universities have conferred honorary doctorate degrees on this great national treasure, who has, at different times, been Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo; and is presently Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos; Chancellor, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere(BOUESTI); and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.

A grateful nation has twice honoured this legal titan: first, by conferring on him the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2012, by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR; and second, by bestowing on him the higher national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022, by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

As one of the beneficiaries of this legal giant, indeed, one of his protégés, students, mentees, disciples, admirers, and allies, I join the teeming family of his followers and devotees in celebrating his enormous, prodigious, industrious, illustrious, and colossal contributions to our laws and jurisprudence; by extension, to the advancement of the nation and his laudable impact on humanity.

May the Almighty God continue to strengthen, fortify, and rejuvenate this bountiful intellectual gift to mankind.

Dr. Muritala Oladimeji Abdul-Rasheed, SAN
Former National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian BarAssociation (NBA) 2008-2010.