Lagos State Judiciary has held a valedictory court session for the late Justice Samuel Omotunde Ilori, who was the ninth Chief Judge of the state. ADEBISI ONANUGA reports
Judges, Magistrates, lawyers and other stakeholders in the justice sector converged on Lagos at the Ikeja High Court premises last week to honour a former Chief Judge of the state’s judiciary, Justice Samuel Omotunde Ilori who passed away on October 12, 2021, at 87. He was the ninth Chief Judge of the High Court of Lagos State.
In a tribute, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba described the deceased as a reformer and a very good mentor to the judiciary.
Alogba, who was represented by Justice Toyin Oyekan-Abdullahi, the Admin Judge of the Lagos Division of the Lagos State High Court, said that the late Justice Ilori, even in retirement remained active in the judicial sector.
According to him, “ Justice Samuel Omotunde llori retired in relative good health and his brilliant mind was very active. He established the Law Update Consultancy Chambers at Aret Adams House, lkorodu Road, Lagos. He offered legal advice to lawyers and arbitration to resolve disputes. He enjoyed a robust practice even in retirement.
He said the Magistrate Court House in Ogba, ‘The Samuel Omotunde Ilori Court House’ was named after him by former Governor Babatunde Fashola. He was the first Chief Judge to be so honoured by Lagos State whilst alive.
He said the coincidence of having a Court House on it named after him was therefore gratifying.
‘’Honourabke Justice S.O. Ilori lived an active and fulfilled life up till old age.”
Justice Alogba said the late jurist would be sorely missed by the legal community especially past and present judges of Lagos State.
The Attorney-General (A-G) of Lagos, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) said Ilori had a stellar career at the Ministry of Justice where he served for 11-years.
Onigbanjo, who was represented by Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, also described Ilori’s meritorious service as a judge.
“In his 16 years of service as a judge, no one left his court with any doubt that they received substantial justice according to the law.
“Under his leadership as the ninth Chief Judge of Lagos, the Lagos Judiciary remained a pacesetter with the introduction of verbatim court recording machines to enhance efficient justice delivery,” the A-G said.
The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), described the late Justice Ilori as an admirable and quintessential elder statesman.
“Hon. Justice Ilori was an embodiment of transparency, dependability, wisdom, humility and incorruptibility.
“His meritorious service and contribution to the growth and development of the administration of Justice in Lagos State during his active career years on the Bench will continue to be on the lips of stakeholders in the ‘legal industry’”.
Onigbanjo said Ilori, while a Judge, had many landmark judgments to his credit and that even after his retirement, he continued to inspire serving judges and lawyers and was indeed a father and mentor to many of us.
He recalled: “At the Ministry of Justice, where he served for more than 11 years, he worked diligently through several departments and was appointed the fourth Director of Public Prosecutions. Following his sterling qualities and achievements he was subsequently appointed the fifth Solicitor -General and Permanent Secretary in Lagos State.
“As Director of Public Prosecutions, Hon. Justice Ilori led the prosecution and built an impregnable fortress of evidence against the popular Lagos farmer, Chief Jimoh Ishola Adeyemi famously known as “Ejigbadero – The King of Land Grabbers” who was convicted and sentenced by late Hon. Justice Ishola Oluwa for the two-count charge of conspiracy to commit murder and murder of Raji Oba. This case generated a lot of public interest and in the long run, had more impact on the policy formulation of land matters both at the Federal and State levels in Nigeria. The conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. His elevation to the Bench in 1979 didn’t come as a surprise.
“His Lordship’s decisions on the Bench constantly echoed the need for justice to be served at all times, no matter whose ox is gored; a product of nothing but courage.
“ As we celebrate this admirable and quintessential elder statesman, we join the camp of the eminent poet, John Donne, who said “there are instances where death has no right to be proud for its sting operation. For a life well lived and one that has itself cast on hearts rather than thomb stones, death need not rejoice.
He said: “History vividly remembers, and posterity will be proud to associate with the extremely brilliant jurist who lived an impactful life worthy of emulation. Such is the life of late Hon. Justice Samuel Omotunde Ilori. His Lordship’s long fruitful career in Public Service spanned more than 30 years’’.
‘’Whilst the Judiciary and the entire legal profession will eternally remember my Lord’s elegant development of the law and Nigerian legal jurisprudence, we pray that God Almighty, in His judgment, rules in favour of our dear father and mentor.”
A retired justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour representing the Body of Benchers at the occasion said that the late Ilori was an accomplished jurist.
“I learnt a lot from him. I joined him at the Lagos High Court as a judge and he became the last Chief Judge of Lagos State of the last century.
“While his lordship was the Chief Judge, he was a respected jurist and administrator. One outstanding feature of his lordship when presiding was his calmness, patience, attention to details of evidence and cases before him.
“The Lagos State Law Reports are replete with his judgments. Today we celebrate a life well spent,” Rhodes-Vivour said.
Justice George Oguntade, also a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, who spoke on behalf of retired judges, said the deceased was his friend and that he still finds it difficult to believe that he had passed on.
Justice Oguntade said: “Beyond our friendship, I know of his noble character and I had high regard for his calmness and wisdom on the bench.
“He was an accomplished lawyer, then a distinguished jurist and legal draftsman who understands the importance for details in law.
“Justice Ilori handled several important cases as DPP and a Judge”, he recalled, adding that he continued to fight for the improvement of welfare package of judges till he died.
A representative of the Body of Senior Advoates of Nigeria, Mrs Abimbola Williams-Akinjide (SAN), described herself as former classmate of the deceased at the Nigerian Law School class of 1964.
She noted Ilori had a distinguished 30-year career in public and private service and was very active in legal practice after his retirement as a judge.
“He must have had law in his DNA, he fathered 11 children, five of whom read law and two became judges; Justice Olusola Williams and Justice Yemisi Adelaja,” she said.
She said the tenure of Justice Ilori in Lagos State judiciary was a blessing emphasising, “he illuminated justice and and lent more to administration of justice not just in the state but also across the country.”
The chairman of Lagos State Magistrates Association, Mrs Adejumoke Olagbegi-Adelabu, said: “a man is valued by what others say about him. Justice Ilori was as an accomplished jurist who impacted positively on the Lagos judiciary.
She noted: “He was a distinguished lawyer and eminent jurist. On the spiritual side, he had exceptional devotion to the service of God and humanity. He has this habit of turning a bad situation to a better one. His life is a big lesson to people in the judiciary.”
Responding to the tributes, a daughter of the deceased Ms Oluwakemi Ilori expressed gratitude on behalf of the family.
“He lived a life that he thoroughly enjoyed his life was an inspiration to us his children. My father would have succeeded in any profession that he chose. He was very thorough, meticulous and brilliant.
“We miss him dearly, he instilled values in us that made us appreciate what it is to live a worthy life. We are mourning but we are so blessed to have such a fantastic man as our father,” she said.
