A Valedictory Court Session has been held by the Lagos State judiciary in honour of late Justice Moshood Olugbani, who died December 30, 2021, at the Ikeja High Court complex, Oba Akinjobi Way, GRA, Ikeja.
Speaking during the Valedictory Court Session, the Chief judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, described the late Justice Moshood Olugbani as a courageous judge who left indelible marks in the state judiciary.
Justice Alogba who was represented by the Administrative Judge of Lagos, Justice Taofikat Oyekan-Abdullahi, said the late Justice Olugbani who died December 30 last year would be remembered for his many landmark judgments that have become reference points today.
To buttress his position, he cited Olugbani’s decision in a case, Ojomu Vs Eletu which he said was upheld at the Court of Appeal and adopted by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, adding that Olugbani was loved by the entire Olugbani Ruling House of Isale Eko.
“We in the Judiciary of Lagos State salute his courage; judges, magistrates of Lagos judiciary would greatly feel the vacuum he left behind,”he said.
The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), in his remarks at the event said the late Justice Olugbani was dedicated and committed jurist who discharged judicial services dutifully.
Onigbanjo who was represented by the Solicitor General and Permanenet Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey said the late Justice Olugbani served meritoriously at the State Judiciary and Ministry of Justice for 17 years meritoriously.
He recalled that Olugbani, between 1986 and 1999, served as Chairman, Armed Robbery and Fire Arms Tribunal and left his foot prints in the sand of time.
“His Lordship was accommodating, down to earth and very jovial. He lived a fulfilled life,” he noted, praying that the late judge’s family will find the strength to bear his loss.
Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Epe Branch, Prince Ademola Koko said Olugbani’s demise was a great loss to the legal profession noting that he impacted on the legal profession physically and educationally.
According to Koko. “Olugbani lived a good life and left behind a good legacy for us to emulate. He was a jurist per excellence. He was humorous but a no nonsense judge. He came and he did his best. And to his family, he left a good legacy for you all to emulate.”
Lagos NBA Chairman, Ikechukwu Nwanah, said the late jurist fulfilled his duty to the state and the country, adding that “he left a great legacy which has become an inspiration to all of us and will stand the test of time.”
The Chairman, Ikorodu NBA, Abimbola Ojedokun remarked that the late Justice Olugbani, during his life time, had huge love and kindness for humanity.
According to Ojedokun, “he served his God diligently. May almighty Allah look at his goodness and use it to forgive shortcomings and grant him Al-Jannah Fridous.”
In a vote of thanks, the late judge’s son, Chief Bolanle, described his late father “as a gentleman who hardly uses the cane. One look at his face, you won’t repeat same deed again.”
He thanked the state judiciary for the honour done his late father, stressing, “we believe where ever he is, he would be happy to have served the state judiciary.”
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