David Williams
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN has eulogised late Hon. Justice John Ojo Akinyede (Rtd.) over his dedication to judicial proceedings during his lifetime.
Speaking at the special valedictory court sitting in honour of late Judge at the State’s High Court premises in Ado-Ekiti, Apata described the late jurist as a man of uncommon integrity, discipline and unwavering commitment to justice, noting that the sitting was to celebrate a life of selfless service and lasting impact on the judiciary.
“Though we mourn, we also rejoice, because we are not here to lament a life cut short, but to honour a life well lived, fully spent, and nobly concluded,” Apata said.
The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon. Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, said the special sitting was a solemn tradition to honour the service and contributions of a departed colleague, describing the late Justice Akinyede as a jurist who played a significant role in strengthening the judiciary in Ekiti State.
He recalled his personal encounters with the deceased while serving as a prosecuting counsel at the Ikole-Ekiti Judicial Division.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, said testimonies at the event showed that the late Justice Akinyede lived an exemplary life, stressing that the value of a life lies in the positive impact made on others.
Representing the Inner Bar, Mr. Olagoke O. Fakunle, SAN, described the late Justice Akinyede as an outstanding jurist and mentor whose judgments and personal virtues continue to inspire members of the legal profession. He urged the judiciary to preserve landmark judgments for future reference.
The late Hon. Justice John Ojo Akinyede was admitted to the English Bar at Lincoln’s Inn, London, in 1961 and served extensively in the Ondo State Judiciary, particularly at the Ikole-Ekiti Judicial Division, before retiring from the Ekiti State High Court in 1998.
Dignitaries at the event included the President of the Ekiti State Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice M.O. Abodunde, judges of the Ekiti State High Court, judges of the Ekiti State Customary Court of Appeal, magistrates, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State, Mr. Kola Kolade, SAN, Mr. Adetunji Oso, SAN, the Chairmen of the Ado-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti, and Ikere-Ekiti branches of the Nigerian Bar Association, and other senior members of the Bar.
