From Bola Ogunlayi, Ibadan
As Nigerians continue to morn the demise of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Malam Abba Kyari, a legal luminary, Chief Richard Akinjide has been reported to have passed on. A reliable source has disclosed
A Legal luminary and one-time Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Richard Akinjide, SAN, his demise, early hour Tuesday was confirmed by the authorities of the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan.
Toye Akinrinlola, media spokesperson of UCH, said the legal icon was brought to the Hospital by 1am and certified dead thereafter.
One of the oldest lawyers in Nigeria had practiced law for over 60 years with landmark appearances in political evolution of the country.
Akinjide was born in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in the early 1930s to an influential family of warriors.
He was a former Minister of Education in the Government of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, and in the Second Republic, the Minister for Justice in the Administration of President Shehu Shagari.
He was also a member of the Judicial Systems Sub-Committee of the Constitutional Drafting Committee of 1975-1977 and later joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1978. He became the Legal Adviser for the party and was later appointed the Minister for Justice.
He was reputed for being behind the controversial twelve, two third of 19 States Presidential Petition Tribunal in which judgment was entered in favour of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) against the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) represented by Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Chief Obafemi Awolowo respectively.