Champion of the People, Voice of the Voiceless: Remembering Adesina Ademola Ogunlana, Esq., CC, SMP, APT, SBWN, IJONS, Nigerian Lawyer and Thinker (1964 – 2024)
Withinn the Nigerian legal community in the past few days
, few names have resonated as profoundly as that of Adesina Ademola Ogunlana, known to many as ‘Serubawon’, and to some severally as Daddy Akin, Popsy Akanbi, Baba Lashabi, Aare Onakakanfo of NBA Ikeja Branch. On August 6th, 2024, exactly 10 days after the celebration of his 60th birthday, the legal community, the human rights movement, and indeed, the nation, lost one of its most fervent advocates—a man who lived, breathed, and fought for justice in its purest form.
To call Serubawon a lawyer is to speak only to the surface of a life so richly lived, a life dedicated to championing the cause of the oppressed, the downtrodden, and the voiceless. As the Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, Serubawon embodied the very spirit of legal activism. His leadership was a clarion call for justice, a rallying cry for truth, and an unyielding demand for the dignity of all Nigerians.
His tenure as Chairman was marked not by the quiet maintenance of the status quo, but by bold, fearless advocacy. Serubawon was a man who took the fight to the corridors of power, unafraid to challenge authority when it strayed from the path of righteousness. His name became synonymous with resistance against oppression, and his actions spoke louder than words, echoing through the halls of justice and into the hearts of the people.
As the Publisher of The Learned Squib, Serubawon wielded the pen as deftly as he did the law. Through this publication, he carved out a space for truth in a world often clouded by deception. The Learned Squib was not just a magazine; it was a platform for exposing corruption, a beacon of accountability, and a voice for those who otherwise had none. With every issue, Serubawon reminded the world that journalism, like the law, is a powerful tool in the fight for justice, and that words, when used wisely, can bring down even the mightiest of walls.
But it was in his role as a human rights defender that Serubawon truly shone. He was a man of the people, standing shoulder to shoulder with the masses in their most trying times. He understood that justice is not a privilege, but a fundamental human right, and he dedicated his life to ensuring that this right was upheld, regardless of the cost. His activism was not a mere profession; it was a calling, a sacred duty to protect those who could not protect themselves.
Serubawon’s life was a tapestry woven with threads of courage, integrity, and an unshakeable belief in the power of justice. He was a beacon of hope in a world too often overshadowed by injustice, and his legacy is a testament to the impact one man can have when he refuses to remain silent in the face of wrongdoing.
You may accuse Serubawon of anything but not cowardice, compromise, convenience or complacence. His voice rang out loud and clear in all jurisdictions of his stakes. His positions on issues are known, and very clearly so. Insults, blackmails, false accusations or betrayals never bothered him, he shrugged same off like the duck do to water.
He once described himself as being simply lucky, and rightly so, because, in his words, ‘my pluck is inborn. My unambitious material tastes are inborn.’ He never craved ‘title, money, estates, fame, overseas travels or sojourn.’ Serubawon was just ‘not comfortable in loud, noisy, shekarimi parties.’
As we reflect on the life of Adesina Ademola Ogunlana, we are reminded of the power of one person’s dedication to the cause of justice. Serubawon was more than a lawyer, more than a publisher, more than an activist—he was a force of nature, a man who understood that the fight for justice is never truly over, and who devoted every moment of his life to that cause.
In his passing, we do not just mourn the loss of a great man; we celebrate the life of a warrior who fought the good fight, who ran the race, and who, in doing so, left an indelible mark on the fabric of our society. His spirit lives on in every courtroom, in every protest, in every act of defiance against injustice.
Rest in peace, Serubawon. Your legacy will continue to inspire, to challenge, and to remind us all of the power of a life lived in the service of others.
Fondly remembered by
Dr Mobolaji Ojibara
General Secretary-Elect
Nigerian Bar Association
13 August 2024
