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Senior Advocate Of Nigeria, Adebonajo Badejo, Dies At 61
A senior Advocate Of Nigeria, Jadegoke Adebonajo Badejo, Has Passed Away.
The Principal Partner of Bonajo Badejo & Co, died as he was walking out of his home. He was was born on the 6th of March, 1959 (61 years).
The Chairman of Molusi College Old Student Association (MOCOSA) Dr Wole Kukoyi confirmed the death of legal luminary to EkoHotBlog on Saturday morning.
Bonajo was the Chairman of Lagos branch of MOCOSA.
He said “It is with heavy hearts we announce the death of MOCOSA CHAIRMAN LAGOS BRANCH SIR BONOJO BADEJO( SAN)”
Kukoyi described the death of Bonajo as ‘a painful loss’ to Molusi College, MOCOSA Alumni and the legal profession.
He also described him as a cerebral professional who upheld the ethics of the legal profession to the latter and never compromised on what was right.
A source closed to the lawyer said he slumped and died while getting ready for work.
“He was fully dressed about to step out of the house. He was getting ready to leave home for work yesterday when he slumped and passed on,” the source said.
Badejo was called to Bar in 1980 and took Silk in 2009 with conferment serial no. 311.
He had an LL.B from the University of Ife and an LL.M from the University of Lagos, among other qualifications.
The Body of SANs (BOSAN) mourned his death in a statement on Saturday.
“We deeply mourn the sad demise of our colleague and we pray that the Almighty God grants his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“Funeral arrangements as released by his family will be announced in due course,” said BOSAN secretary, Mr Seyi Sowemimo, SAN.
Sir Badejo acted as Legal Consultant and Company Secretary to many blue-chip companies and orthodox religious bodies in Nigeria.
As part of testaments to a life well-lived, encomiums and tributes have started pouring in for the quintessential lawyer.
A school mate of Bonajo at molusi college, pastor Sola Ogunbajo, said the news of the lawyer’s demise has left him devastated, he narrated how Bonajo represented him pro bono and helped him reclaim the land that’s been a subject of intractable litigation with the Lagos state government.
“The shocking news of the sudden death of a friend, schoolmate and brother reached me yesterday night via a call from Dr Kukoyi, our Global President and it hit me below the belt.
” For some minutes, Dr Kukoyi was talking at the other end of the line but I had, by that time threw my phone aside. This made him apprehensive as to my safety. This, he confirmed this morning when I picked up my phone again.
” Dr Kukoyi knows that my relationship with Barrister Bonojo Badejo goes beyond Molusi.
The learned legal mogul and guru just won a case for me against the Lagos State Government Lands Bureau.
” May I add that the plot of land in dispute which was allocated to me, but later withdrawn by the same Lands Bureau was restored back to me after a protracted legal tussle from the Chambers of Barrister Bonajo Badejo SAN against the Lagos State Government. May I point out that the case, which was as good as lost, initially by me, lasted over 10years.
And it is noteworthy that Barrister Bonajo did not take a kobo from me from the beginning to the end of the case.
“And this is why I buy into Barrister Femi Talabi’s description of Barrister Bonojo as an “amiable but dogged first-class litigation lawyer whose prowess at the Bar was affirmed when he was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, in the year 2010”.
“His passage, which only God can explain would be sorely felt by everyone with whom he related.
My prayer is that God Himself would console us while his soul rests in peace with the Lord.
*Olusola Ogunbanjo 2208″.
Another school mate of Sir Bonajo, Dr Tele Ekundayo described his death as unpalatable.
” This is indeed an unpalatable meal with an unsavoury taste in the mouth of every Molusian!
“May the soul of our highly respected orator with a perfect, impressive and highly motivating speech delivery at our Molusi College 70th Anniversary Fund Raising and Gala Night at Sheraton Hotel Ikeja, Lagos State, rest perfectly in the bosom of Christ!
“May God grant the family the fortitude to swallow the bitter pill.” Bonastic! Why so soon!” he said.
Some of his religious friends paid tribute to his memory at https://www.forevermissed.com/sirbonajo-badejosankjw/about a website set up in his honour.
“I sat beside you as a timekeeper at the March constitutional review conference of our church held at Hoare’s memorial; to say you displayed your usual brilliance and zeal is an understatement. A soft-spoken, quiet achiever but loud committer of time and resources. We have been hit below the belt. May God bless your beautiful and pleasant soul. The great tree that fall and emptied the forest!,” said Kolade Fadahunsiu.
Others who paid tribute include Erimakpe Adelemoni and Busyi Agunbiade.
“You taught me, you tutored me, you were tough yet caring, I feared you like a son his father, I respected you and adored your hard work and dedication to work and humanity. The news of your passing has been one of total shock and disbelief. Sir, you were a good man. May heaven open its doors for your soul, may the Lord welcome you into His eternal rest. Rest well sir,” Adelemoni said.
“What a day for humanity. Sir Bonajo Badejo, we were still in the grief of the colossal loss, in the person of Sir Oluremi Omotoso, when we had that your Maker has also called you home. Though it pains to lose two giants of faiths like you even within a decade, our comfort is in the fact you died as a dedicated, committed, productive, humble servant of God. Good night servant of God,” Agunbiade said.
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