A Tribute to Adesina Ogunlana (Serubawon): One Year On
Today marks exactly one year since Adesina Ogunlana (popularly known as Serubawon) was lowered six feet beneath the earth surface, having passed away on the 6th of August, 2024. A fearless advocate, principled lawyer, and relentless justice crusader.
Though the pain of his departure still lingers, so too does the powerful legacy he left behind. A legacy built on courage, conviction, and an unshakable belief in the dignity of every human being.
Adesina Ogunlana was not just a lawyer. He was a voice for the voiceless, a shield for the vulnerable, and a thorn in the side of oppression. He stood where many feared to stand, spoke when silence was the easier path, and acted when passivity was the safer option. In every courtroom he entered, in every protest he joined, and in every article or public statement he made, his commitment to truth and justice rang loud and clear.
As a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, Serubawon brought not only intellect and professionalism to the office but also a rare fire. The fire of activism guided by law. He used his position not for privilege, but for purpose. He challenged corruption, he confronted tyranny, and he never stopped believing that the law could be a force for good. I recall our many protests against Lagos State’s obnoxious tax regime. He did not just initiate the idea, he gallantly led the protests.
In remembering Adesina Ogunlana, we remember a man who was never content with injustice, whether it came from institutions or individuals. His boldness, often controversial, was never for self-glory but always for the greater good. He knew the risks of speaking truth to power, but he accepted them, because silence was never an option for him.
To the legal community, he was an inspiration. To his clients, a lifeline. To young lawyers and activists, a mentor. To the oppressors, a nightmare they could not silence. He stung the oppressors with his powerful and wisdom laden words.
Having worked closely with Serubawon during our respective services to the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch from 2006 till he passed in 2024, I can confidently say he was a man of conviction and contentment. Though he may no longer be with us in the flesh, his ideals continue to breathe life into our collective struggle for a just and equitable society. Let us not merely mourn his absence but honor his memory by continuing the fight he so passionately led.
Adesina Ogunlana may be gone, but his unbroken, unbending, and uncompromising spirit lives on.
Your voice still echoes. Your legacy endures.
Rest in power, Serubawon!
Adesina Adegbite, FICMC, MCIArb
Past Secretary NBA Ikeja Branch, Past General Secretary NBA Secretary General, West African Bar Association (WABA)
