I sincerely congratulate My Lord, the Honourable Justice Mary Odili, JSC (Rtd) and High Chief, Asiwaju Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo, SAN on their elevation as the Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of the prestigious Body of Benchers as I know that the combination of the duo would fetch the body a new synergy and strengthen the principles of the legal organization.
The contributions of my lord, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, JSC(Rtd) to Nigerian jurisprudence are so outstanding that they have continued to elicit accolades among legal practitioners. Her record of service and the fecundity of her jurisprudential knowledge have continued to give unquantifiable boosts to the legal profession, not only in Nigeria but accross Africa.
The emergence of Chief Solomon Gboyega Awomolo, SAN as the Vice-Chairman of that great Body of Benchers, is a monumental development and can truly be described as putting a square peg in a square hole. It is such a demonstration of true merit, such that an author, Amit Kalantri, says is like steel and not like cotton, that seems small from the outside but weighs heavy on the inside.
Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN is a colossus of the Bar that has contributed immensely to the ideological conduct of legal professionals through his great works, enviable comportment and unbending principles. It is in the annals of the history of this profession in this country that a few great men stood up to be counted, stood up against tyranny while rounding up and sustaining like minds when others chose to wine and dine with the tyrant.
Chief Awomolo is of the former ilk, natural leader and today, he is an icon of principled ideology, a leader among leaders of unwavering integrity who earned his sobriquet of “Chairman of Chairmen” meritoriously.
Without a doubt, the Body of Benchers cannot be in better hands than those of the duo and I wish them the very best in their tenure.
I also heartily congratulate the legal profession for these good tidings.
Dated 30th Day of March, 2023.
Signed
*Olukayode Ajulo*
Castle of Law,
Abuja-Nigeria